Mandelson is Released on Bail after being Quizzed by Scotland Yard’s Elite ‘Celeb Squad’: Questions over what Prompted ‘Unusual’ 4.30pm Arrest at Disgraced Lord’s £7 Million Home 17 Days after his Properties were Searched Over Links to Epstein
By LETTICE BROMOVSKY, NEWS REPORTER
Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after being quizzed late into the night over allegations he leaked sensitive information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein during his time as business secretary.
The disgraced former minister was led away by detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Special Investigations Team – the unit dubbed the Yard’s ‘Celeb Squad’ – on suspicion of misconduct in public office yesterday afternoon.
Nine hours later at around 1.15am the 72-year-old architect of New Labour was pictured as he was driven out of Wandsworth Police Station.
He left the station in a black car accompanied by three other people but shortly after arrived home in a London black cab. He remained silent and downcast as he walked into his house.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said in the early hours of Tuesday: ‘A 72-year-old man arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office has been released on bail pending further investigation.
‘He was arrested at an address in Camden on Monday, 23 February and was taken to a London police station for interview.
‘This follows search warrants at two addresses in the Wiltshire and Camden areas.
‘We are not able to provide further information at this stage to prevent prejudicing the integrity of the investigation.’
Peter Mandelson has been released on bail after being quizzed late into the night over allegations he leaked sensitive information to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein during his time as business secretary
At around 2am the 72-year-old architect of New Labour was pictured looking solemn as he was driven out of Wandsworth Police Station
Mandelson arrives home in the early hours of Tuesday
The disgraced former minister Peter Mandelson was led away by detectives from the Metropolitan Police’s Special Investigations Team yesterday afternoon
An ashen-faced Mandelson was seen walking behind Met Detective Inspector Barry Williams (left), who had a body-worn camera clipped to his jacket lapel
He had been picked up at around 4.30pm yesterday at his £7.6million Regent’s Park home, 17 days after officers searched his properties in London and Wiltshire.
Last night there were questions over why police waited more than a fortnight after those raids to make the arrest.
An ashen-faced Mandelson was seen walking behind Met Detective Inspector Barry Williams yesterday afternoon, who had a body-worn camera clipped to his jacket lapel.
He and the peer climbed into the rear of an unmarked Ford Focus while a female officer took the front seat.
Upon arrival, he would have been processed in custody – with a DNA saliva swab, fingerprints and a custody photograph taken – before being placed in a holding room pending the arrival of his solicitor.
His arrest comes days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was held on suspicion of the same offence.
When Mountbatten-Windsor was questioned by Thames Valley Police, he was interviewed for 11 hours.
Lord Mandelson was expected to have received a similar treatment, including being allowed regular breaks and the right to offer a ‘no comment interview’.
Detectives were thought to have questioned him about emails published in the latest tranche of Epstein files, as well as documents seized during searches of his two homes earlier this month.
The Special Investigations Team, part of Scotland Yard’s central specialist crime division, handles highly sensitive inquiries involving high-profile figures and politically exposed persons.
Its remit includes allegations of offences committed by those in public office, matters connected to the Parliamentary Estate, as well as electoral fraud and malpractice.
To make an arrest, officers must have reasonable grounds to suspect an offence has been committed and satisfy the so-called ‘necessity test’, demonstrating that detention is essential for specific investigative reasons.
Police have not commented on the precise trigger for yesterday’s move and there is no suggestion it relates to any wrongdoing during the investigation itself.