POLICE officers attached to Operation Sacristy today (Tuesday, December 18) arrested a 52-year-old man in Wales on suspicion of fraud, corruption and money laundering.

The man was arrested at an address in Pembrokeshire and a number of vehicles and two properties were being searched.

Operation Sacristy is the probe into alleged corrupt activities in Cleveland Police and the former Cleveland Police Authority.

Prior to today's arrest, a total of nine people have been arrested as part of Operation Sacristy.

They included the former Cleveland Chief Constable Sean Price who was sacked in October for gross misconduct in relation to a separate issue.

Among the others arrested have been Councillor Dave McLuckie the former chairman of Cleveland Police Authority and Joe McCarthy, the former chief executive of Cleveland Police Authority.

Mr Price and Coun McLuckie have issued statements saying they had done nothing wrong.

They are among eight people who remain on police bail pending further enquiries.

Cleveland’s Deputy Chief Constable Derek Bonnard has been released from bail but he faces a disciplinary hearing and remains suspended from his post.