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The Metropolitan Police has launched a proper investigation into messages despatched to MPs within the Westminster honeytrap scandal.
The power confirmed on Monday that officers from the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command are finishing up a probe into “unsolicited messages” despatched to a lot of MPs.
The full investigation comes after final week the power mentioned it was assessing stories and is involved with colleagues at Leicester Police, which can also be investigating “malicious communications” despatched to a Leceistershire MP.
Conservative MP for Bosworth Luke Evans final week introduced he was a sufferer of “cyberflashing” and had contacted police after receiving unsolicited specific messages over WhatsApp.
His admission got here after Conservative MP William Wragg revealed he was blackmailed into sharing his colleagues’ cellphone numbers for concern of intimate pictures of him being leaked.
Mr Wragg mentioned on Thursday he was “manipulated” into giving the non-public cellphone numbers of colleagues to man he had met on a courting app.
A Met Police spokesman mentioned on Monday: “Officers from the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command are carrying out an investigation following reports that a number of unsolicited messages were sent to MPs over recent months.
“We are working closely with other forces and are in contact with colleagues in Parliamentary Security, who are providing support and advice around anyone affected.”
In a video posted to Facebook on Friday, Dr Evans mentioned: “A month ago I was a victim of cyberflashing and malicious communications and blew the whistle by reporting it to the police and the parliamentary authorities as soon as this happened.
“The first set of messages I got was on a day I was with my wife and I got a one-time open photo on WhatsApp of an explicit image of a naked lady. As soon as I got these the next day I reported it to the police, the authorities and the chief whip.
“Ten days later I got another set of messages, this time however, I was sat with my team in the constituency office, so we were able to record the conversation and catch photos and videos of the messages coming through including another explicit female image.”
Leicestershire Police beforehand confirmed it’s investigating a report of malicious communications after a lot of unsolicited messages have been despatched to a Leicestershire MP final month.
A spokesperson for the power mentioned: “They were reported to police on Tuesday March 19. Enquiries are currently ongoing.”
MP for Hazel Grove in Greater Manchester Mr Wragg final week apologised for sharing cellphone numbers with a person he had met on-line as a result of that they had “compromising” data on him.
He informed the Times: “I got chatting to a guy on an app and we exchanged pictures. We were meant to meet up for drinks, but then didn’t.
“Then he started asking for numbers of people. I was worried because he had stuff on me. He gave me a WhatsApp number, which doesn’t work now.
“I’ve hurt people by being weak. I was scared. I’m mortified. I’m so sorry that my weakness has caused other people hurt.”
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