In a surprising turn of events, a protection officer working closely with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office, as reported by the BBC. The Metropolitan Police announced the arrest this week after being contacted by the country's Gambling Commission over suspicious bets made on the timing of the election.

The Gambling Commission is leading the investigation into the alleged betting offenses, which involve bets made on the election date. Police sources revealed to Sky News that the officer, who is a member of the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command, placed several bets, including at least one with a significant amount wagered.

In the United Kingdom, bookmakers accept wagers on a wide range of subjects, but it is illegal to place bets using insider information. The investigation is being carried out independently by the police force in parallel with the Gambling Commission's probe.

Following the arrest, the officer has been suspended from duty while the investigation continues. However, this officer is not the only one suspected of using insider knowledge to place bets on the election date. Conservative Party candidate and Sunak aide Craig Williams is also under investigation by the Gambling Commission, with allegations that he placed a bet of $128 on a July election just three days before Sunak made the surprise announcement.

Williams has expressed regret for his actions, admitting to a "huge error in judgment" in a BBC interview last week. He apologized for his actions, recognizing the inappropriate nature of placing a bet based on privileged information.

As investigations proceed and more details emerge, scrutiny will be focused on the protection officer, as well as Williams and any others involved. The consequences of these alleged acts could have serious implications for Sunak's government and the integrity of the electoral process.

The Gambling Commission and the Metropolitan Police will continue their separate investigations to ascertain the extent of the alleged misconduct and whether proper disciplinary actions or legal charges should be pursued.