Operation Elveden: Senior Officer Arrested

A 51-year-old police officer arrested as part of Operation Elveden has been identified as Chief Superintendent Andy Rowell, according to Sky sources.

Mr Rowell is the highest-ranking Metropolitan Police officer arrested as part of the investigation into alleged inappropriate payments by journalists to public officials.

Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt said the officer was employed as the borough commander at Ealing, adding that Scotland Yard had confirmed Mr Rowell is "currently away from work".

The officer was arrested at his home in Wiltshire on Thursday.

A Met Police statement said his arrest "relates to the suspected release of confidential information but not alleged payment".

Despite being arrested under Operation Elveden, which is focusing on alleged corrupt payments, Scotland Yard said there was no suggestion of payments being made in this case.

Mr Rowell was the 61st person to be arrested under Operation Elveden.

He was held as a result of information provided to police by News Corporation's Management and Standards Committee.

Operation Elveden is being run alongside Operation Weeting and Operation Tuleta, a probe into computer hacking and other alleged privacy breaches.

Mr Rowell has been bailed to a date in March.