Former Brit police IT boss cuffed over bribery allegations

The recent head of IT services for Hampshire and Thames Valley police in the UK has been arrested on suspicion of bribery.

After early morning raids on properties in Hampshire and Middlesex, Brian Chant, 57, who lives with his parents at the property in Andover, was arrested by officers from the City of London Police.

The Daily Echo heard pleas of innocence from Chant following the arrest.

Chant said: “In about 2011 or 2012 ... they alleged I took a bribe at a company I was working for which I did not take, because I was not bribed. It has been very stressful, I am innocent. I will always have a bad mark against me.”

“I had a good relationship with the police, I was working there from October 2014 until about three weeks ago. They were happy with what I was doing, I work at quite a senior level and reported to a senior chief constable and had regular meetings with them,” Chant told the Echo.

According to Chant, the alleged offences took place between 2011 and 2013, before he began working as a police IT consultant.

This was confirmed in a statement by Thames Valley Police, which clarified that the "arrest relates to allegations prior to his work with the Force which commenced in 2014."

On LinkedIn, Chant claims to have previously held "UK Government Security Clearance to DV (Top Secret) and SC (Secret)." *

His profile also notes "articles" published in the Financial Times, although all El Reg could find was an interview in which it is explained that he outsourced about 70 per cent of UK procurement firm Achilles' IT staff to India.

The 57-year-old has been bailed, pending further enquiries, until May. ®