The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the Information Commissioner’s Office after the names of the alleged victims of the Westminster honeytrap scandal were revealed to each other.
The force has said it apologises “sincerely for any distress” after an email was “sent in error”.
According to reports, the Met sent an email to all those thought to be victims of the scandal, where the addresses were visible to every recipient.
The recipients’ names were reportedly included in the CC section of the email, rather than BCC, that would have concealed their identities.
A Met Police spokesperson said: “An email relating to an ongoing investigation was sent in error today.
“We recognise the impact on those involved and apologise sincerely for any distress.
“A referral to the Information Commissioner’s Office has been made and we await advice on next steps.
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“Officers will be reaching out to those impacted to personally apologise and provide reassurance.”
The honeytrap scandal was a sexting scam that saw former Tory MP William Wragg give out fellow politicians’ phone numbers to the suspected perpetrator.
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