The controversy over the arrest of Tory frontbencher Damian
Green took a new twist today after it emerged the arresting
officers were wearing sound recording equipment at the time.
Police arrested and held shadow immigration minister Green
for nine hours last month in connection with a Home Office
leak inquiry. It prompted Tory accusations of "heavy-handed
tactics" by Scotland Yard and piled pressure on the officer
in charge of the probe, Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick.
In a statement today, the Metropolitan police said a tape
recording of Green's arrest was made "without his knowledge".
The issue had now been referred to the UK's covert surveillance
watchdog "for their advice", the force added.
The Met said: "A tape sound recording was made of the
MP's arrest and subsequent period in police charge, without
his knowledge, prior to arrival at Belgravia police station
from Kent.
"This was authorised at superintendent level to provide
an accurate record of anything that may have been said by
officers or the MP over a period of nearly two and a half
hours.
"This was done with the best of intentions but to ensure
total transparency this matter has been voluntarily referred
to the Office of the Surveillance Commissioners for their
advice."
