A Metropolitan Police officer arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office has been bailed.

The 33-year-old man, a serving officer in the MPS Specialist Crime and Operations Command, based in central London, was arrested yesterday morning at his home in the borough of Barnet.

He was arrested as part of Operation Elveden, which is investigating alleged corrupt payments by journalists to police.

The officer was interviewed at a North London police station and was last night bailed to return in late April.

Scotland Yard said the arrest was the result of information provided to the police by News Corporation’s Management and Standards Committee.

It was the 59th arrest by made officers as part of the operation.