Police watchdog looks into alleged bank leaks

A police force has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct over claims that information relating to allegations of fraud against Lloyds Bank was leaked to the lender.

Avon and Somerset Police has made a mandatory referral to the IOPC over claims relating to a long-running inquiry into allegations of fraud at the Lloyds Recoveries unit in Bristol. A police spokesman confirmed the force received a complaint from a member of the public alleging serious corruption.

Documents appeared to show that information about a confidential meeting between two senior officers and the alleged victim, Kashif Shabir, was passed to the bank without his knowledge, the BBC reported.