A Morden man arrested this morning in connection with alleged corrupt payments to public officials has been named as former journalist Greig Box Turnbull.

Mr Box Turnbull, 37, was held at his home on suspicion of corruption, conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to cause misconduct in a public office.

He was one of three people detained by detectives from Operation Elveden, the Metropolitan Police’s investigation into allegations that journalists made illegal payments to police and other public officials.

Mr Box Turnbull - a senior media officer with Westminster Council on attachment to Richmond Council - joined the Daily Mirror in 2004 and left the paper in March this year.

A Westminster City Council spokesman said: “We are aware of the arrest. We have yet to speak to the employee.

“In the light of that and the possibility of further legal action, it would clearly be inappropriate for us to say anything further.”

Trinity Mirror, which publishes the Daily Mirror, declined to comment.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "Today's arrests relate to suspected payments to a public official and are not about seeking journalists to reveal confidential sources in relation to information that has been obtained legitimately."

A total of 37 people have now been arrested under Operation Elveden, which is running alongside Operation, which is looking into phone-hacking.