Female officer held over 'bribery' in hacking case

A policewoman was arrested yesterday in connection with alleged corrupt payments from journalists to serving officers.

The Metropolitan Police officer, aged 52, who is understood to work in Scotland Yard's specialist operations command, is the first member of police staff to be arrested by Operation Elveden, an investigation into allegations of inappropriate payments to police.

Last week, the News of the World's former crime editor Lucy Panton, 37, was arrested before being bailed.

The Yard said yesterday's arrest took place at 6am at the officer's home in Essex. She was later released on bail.

The special operations directorate includes the Met's royal protection unit, but it is understood the officer is not currently working for that squad.

So far, 16 people have been arrested under Scotland Yard's investigation into phone hacking, including the former News of the World editor Andy Coulson and the former News International chief executive, Rebekah Brooks.