A police officer from Barnet has been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into inappropriate payments to police and public officials by journalists.

The 33-year-old was arrested at his home on suspicion of misconduct in a public office as part of Operation Elveden at around 5.45am this morning.

The serving officer is in the MPS Specialist Crime and Operations command based in central London, and is the 59th person to be arrested as part of the Elveden investigation.

He is being interviewed at a North London police station and his property is being searched. 

Scotland Yard said today's arrest is the result of information provided to police by News Corporation's management and standards committee.

A spokesman said: “It relates to suspected payments to a police officer and is not about seeking journalists to reveal confidential sources in relation to information that has been obtained legitimately.”