"The Commons speaker told MPs that he had shared the information with police in good faith during what the Guardian understands was a meeting with detectives investigating Mandelson on Monday. The former UK ambassador was arrested later that day on suspicion of misconduct in a public office in relation to allegations he passed on sensitive government information to the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein."
"Scotland Yard is understood to have then conducted its own assessment of the information passed on by the speaker before deciding to arrest Mandelson, who has denied planning to flee to the British Virgin Islands. His lawyers, Mishcon de Reya, have written to the Met asking upon what evidence they based the arrest."
"Senior Scotland Yard officers are also understood to be meeting in person with Lindsay Hoyle on Wednesday afternoon to explain their error, which is regarded internally as a serious breach of protocol."
The Metropolitan Police apologized to Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle for a serious breach of protocol involving the sharing of confidential information with Peter Mandelson's legal representatives. Hoyle had shared information with police in good faith during an investigation meeting, reporting claims that Mandelson planned to flee to the British Virgin Islands. The police subsequently arrested Mandelson on suspicion of misconduct in public office related to allegations he passed sensitive government information to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson denies all wrongdoing and has surrendered his passport under bail conditions. Senior Scotland Yard officers planned to meet with Hoyle to explain the error, which is regarded internally as a significant protocol violation.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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