Hacking latest: Woman held in corrupt payment probe

A 32-year-old woman was arrested today by detectives in Britain investigating allegations of corrupt payments made by journalists to public officials.

The woman becomes the 23rd person to be arrested as part of Operation Elveden.

The Metropolitan Police operation is the result of information provided to police by News Corporation’s management standards committee.

Operation Elveden - which runs alongside the Met's Operation Weeting team - was launched as the phone-hacking scandal erupted last July with allegations about the now-defunct News of the World targeting Milly Dowler's mobile phone.

It has now widened to include suspected corruption involving public officials, as well as police officers.

The latest arrest in the inquiry follows those of eight people, including five employees from The Sun, a serving member of the armed forces, a Ministry of Defence employee and a Surrey Police officer who were detained last month. They were later bailed.

In January, four former and current Sun journalists and a serving Metropolitan Police officer were arrested in connection with Operation Elveden.

Police said the woman is currently in custody at a south London police station after being arrested by appointment.