Two arrested in Bridgwater over 'misconduct in public office' (From Somerset County Gazette)

Two arrested in Bridgwater over 'misconduct in public office'

11:19am Thursday 5th July 2012 in Taunton

OFFICERS investigating allegations of inappropriate payments to police and public officials have arrested two people in Bridgwater this morning (July 5).

The arrests were made by officers from Operation Elveden which is being supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Operation Elveden is being run in conjunction with Operation Weeting, the inquiry into the phone-hacking of voicemail boxes.

A 46-year-old-man, a former NHS employee, was arrested at his home address in Bridgwater, on suspicion of conspiracy to cause misconduct in a public office and on suspicion of corruption.

A 42-year-old woman, a former NHS employee, was arrested at her home address in Bridgwater, on suspicion of conspiracy to cause misconduct in a public office and on suspicion of corruption.

Both are being questioned at a police station in Somerset.

The arrests are the result of information provided to police by News Corporation's Management Standards Committee, the Metropolitan Police have said.

In a statement, the force said: "It relates to suspected payments to public officials and is not about seeking journalists to reveal confidential sources in relation to information that has been obtained legitimately."