20 Aug 2011

Policeman arrested over hacking probe leaks

4:10 pm on 20 August 2011

A police officer has been arrested as part of the British police investigation into phone hacking at the News of the World.

The detective constable was questioned about the unauthorised disclosure of information about the investigation, which a senior officer has described as hugely disappointing.

The Metropolitan Police said in a statement on Friday that anti-corruption officers had arrested a 51-year-old officer serving the force's phone hacking investigation. He has been bailed and is suspended from duty.

A report on Sky News said he was accused of leaking information to The Guardian, the newspaper which has long been investigating the hacking at the News of the World.

The officer in charge of the phone hacking investigation, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers, said the development was hugely disappointing.

Police separately said a 14th person, reportedly a former journalist at the now defunct tabloid owned by Rupert Murdoch, was arrested in connection with the original probe into the illegal hacking of mobile phone voicemails.