Ealing's Police Commander Andy Rowell has been arrested for allegedly leaking confidential information to a newspaper according to reports.

Chief Constable Rowell, 51, is believed to have been arrested on Thursday (14th February) at about 6am at his home in Wiltshire on suspicion of misconduct in public office.

A statement issued by the Metropolitan Police says that a 51 year old officer had been arrested but did not name Mr. Rowell and they are refusing to confirm it is him although they say that he is currently 'away from work'. The crime correspondents of Sky News and the Times have stated on Twitter that he is the man being referred to.

Operation Elveden is being supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission and is running in conjunction with Operation Weeting, the Metropolitan Police Service phone-hacking inquiry.

Its remit to date has been into allegations of inappropriate payments to police and public officials.

Scotland Yard said the arrest came about as a result of information it had received from News Corporation's management and standards committee, but indicated he was not being questioned about alleged payment for stories.

"Today's arrest is the result of information provided to police by News Corporation's management and standards committee and it relates to the suspected release of confidential information," the Met said in their statement.

"Today's arrest, however, relates to the suspected release of confidential information but not alleged payment."

Chief Superintendent Andy Rowell began his police career in 1984 and became borough Commander in Ealing in July 2010.

 

15th February 2013