Ex-officer arrested in Operation Elveden

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SURREY, England, May 3 (UPI) -- British police say they arrested a retired police officer Thursday morning on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, the 27th arrest of Operation Elveden.

The 57-year-old former Metropolitan Police officer was arrested around 6:30 a.m. at his home in Surrey, and taken to a South London police station for questioning. The Daily Telegraph reported detectives conducted a search of his home.

Scotland Yard released a statement saying the allegations against the retired officer come from documents provided to law enforcement by News Corp.'s Management and Standards Committee.

"It relates to suspected payments to a former police officer and is not about seeking journalists to reveal confidential sources in relation to information that has been obtained legitimately," the statement said.

Operation Elveden is an ongoing investigation into police bribes following the Leveson Inquiry into unethical practices by the British press. Last month, Duncan Larcombe, royal editor for The Sun was arrested along with a 42-year-old ex-serviceman and a 38-year-old woman, as a part of Operation Elveden.