Protection officer sacked for affair

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LONDON, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- A London police officer was dismissed Tuesday for allegedly having an affair with the wife of a former home secretary when he was assigned to guard her husband.

Police Constable Paul Rice was in the Metropolitan Police protection squad and was assigned to Alan Johnson, home secretary in the Labor government, in the months before the 2010 election. He was transferred to Johnson's Conservative successor, Theresa May.

Rice, suspended from the protection squad in January, was fired after a misconduct hearing, The Independent reported.

Police Commander Peter Spindler said Rice's conduct hurt the reputation of the police and the protection squad.

"The behavior displayed by the officer was unacceptable and as such the board has rightly sanctioned him for the abuse of his position of trust," Spindler said.

Johnson served as shadow chancellor for several months. He resigned in January, citing "personal issues in my private life."

As a protection officer, Rice traveled with Johnson both in Britain and on overseas trips.