Metropolitan Police detectives have announced the conclusion of their role in the ongoing criminal investigation regarding bets placed on the date of the General Election. The investigation was launched after it came to light that bets had been made on the election date, prompting the force to probe whether a “small number” of bets on the July 4 poll involved more serious offences such as misconduct in public office.
A number of Conservatives, including Rishi Sunak’s former parliamentary aide, Craig Williams, were implicated in the Gambling Commission inquiry. Williams, who was MP for Montgomeryshire at the time, placed a £100 bet on a July election being called. The Gambling Commission initiated an inquiry into the matter, which was accompanied by a police investigation led by the Metropolitan Police.
In June, it was announced that bets suspected of breaching Section 42 of the Gambling Act 2005 (Cheating) would be investigated by the Gambling Commission. The Metropolitan Police would then examine bets suspected of both breaching the legislation and potentially involving offences like Misconduct in Public Office. Following consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Gambling Commission, it was determined that only a small number of cases met the criteria for the latter category.
Based on evidence assessment and advice from the CPS, the Metropolitan Police announced on August 23 that the threshold for proving Misconduct in Public Office had not been met in these cases. Consequently, the police’s involvement in the investigation of any criminal matters will cease, and the cases will be handed back to the Gambling Commission for further review.
Detective Superintendent Katherine Goodwin stressed the importance of continuing to address Gambling Act offences and highlighted that seven police officers allegedly involved in placing bets are among those under investigation by the Gambling Commission and the Met’s Directorate of Professional Standards.
Andrew Rhodes, chief executive of the Gambling Commission, affirmed the focus on the criminal investigation into the misuse of confidential information for betting on the General Election date. The investigation is progressing with interviews of suspects under caution, witness interviews, and collection of documentary and electronic evidence. Rhodes emphasised the need to protect the integrity of the investigation and refrained from disclosing further details at this stage.
The police’s withdrawal from the criminal investigation signals a transition of the cases to the Gambling Commission for ongoing scrutiny. The Commission holds the statutory responsibility to investigate criminal offences under the Gambling Act 2005 and to initiate criminal proceedings where necessary. The outcome of this high-profile investigation will be awaited with keen public interest.