Three held in Scotland Yard bribery probe - ITN

A serving anti-corruption detective and two former officers have been arrested in a bribery probe that strikes to "the heart of Scotland Yard".

The two retired policemen - aged 53 and 58 - had become private investigators after leaving the force and were both being quizzed after raids at the London offices of Risc Management Ltd, it is understood.

Police swooped on the premises as part of a "pre-planned operation that forms part of a long and complex investigation by the directorate of professional standards (DPS)", the Metropolitan Police said.

The 45-year-old detective was also being questioned on suspicion of providing information about Nigerian fraudster James Ibori in return for cash.

Risc was hired by the law firm representing Ibori, a former governor of one of Nigeria's richest oil-producing states who was jailed for 13 years last month by a London court after admitting fraud totalling nearly £50 million.

Mike Schwarz, a partner at Bindmans LLP, told the Home Affairs Select Committee of possible cash payments made by investigation firm Risc to sources of theirs who were "presumably police officers or those close to the investigation".

He said: "What I have seen in that case is serious illegality on behalf of private investigators Risc Management Ltd... which involves apparent corruption right at the heart of New Scotland Yard."