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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
World
Rachael Burford

Met officer suspended ‘after passing Algerian Embassy secrets’

A Metropolitan Police office has been suspended for allegedly passing secret information to Algerian officials after starting an illicit relationship with a member of staff at the country’s London embassy.

The officer, whose name and rank has not been disclosed because of his “role” in the force, will face misconduct proceedings later this year.

It is alleged that following an investigation, in which he acted as community engagement, he began an “improper relationship with a member of staff at the Algerian Embassy” based in Fitzrovia.

It took place between March 2019 and December 2020 and the “contact was not correctly reported or recorded”, police said.

The Met said: “The officer passed information to members of staff at the Algerian Embassy without a proper policing purpose and should not have done so.”

He is also accused of viewing crime reports relating to his neighbour without reason.

If proven the conduct would amount to gross misconduct, the force said.

A Met Police spokesman confirmed to the Standard that the anonymous officer has been suspended from duty.

When asked why he had not been named, when other officers facing misconduct proceedings are, the force added: “It was a decision taken by the independent chair of the hearing due to the officer’s role.”

The Algerian Embassy did not respond to a request for comment.

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