Ex-officers ‘wrong to comment’

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick has insisted former officers were wrong to make public comments regarding allegations that pornographic material was found on a Commons computer belonging to First Secretary of State Damian Green in 2008.

Ms Dick insisted that the duty of confidentiality undertaken by officers continued after they left their posts.

Mr Green, who is the subject of a Cabinet Office inquiry, has strongly denied that he downloaded or watched porn on the computer.

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner told LBC: “Police officers have a duty of confidentiality. We come into contact with personal information very regularly.

“We all know that we have a duty to protect that information and to keep it confidential. In my view, that duty endures.

“It endures after you leave the service, so I believe that what this officer and, indeed, other retired officers, appears to have done is wrong and my professional standards department will be reviewing what has happened in relation to how information has been handled and if any offences are disclosed, we will investigate them.”

Asked if prosecutions could occur in such circumstances, Ms Dick said: “Undoubtedly, if offences have been disclosed and that can be proved, it would be a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service, but there could be a prosecution.”