Police open investigation into West Ham claims

West Ham, who were chosen by the OPLC to move into the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games ahead of Tottenham, allege that the police investigation relates to unlawful activity by a private investigator.

The OPLC appointed auditors Moore Stephens to investigate their own procedures six weeks ago.
That investigation was triggered when Dionne Knight, the OPLC's corporate services director, was suspended after having worked as a consultant for West Ham during the bid to move into the £486 million stadium.

She was immediately suspended on full pay while any possible conflict of interest was investigated.

She had declared a personal relationship with Ian Tompkins, a West Ham director, when she started at the OPLC. She only told the legacy company of her work at the club after a Sunday newspaper claimed she was on West Ham's payroll.

Moore Stephens found that Knight did not have access to confidential information and did not pass any such information on to West Ham or anyone else, and the OPLC board recommended that there were no grounds for reconsidering its recommendation that West Ham's was the preferred bid.

West Ham say the police are now looking into the conduct of a private investigator who they allege unlawfully acquired bank and telephone records belonging to senior executives at the club and the OPLC.

A statement from the Metropolitan Police read: "We can confirm that West Ham United Football Club and the Olympic Park Legacy Company have made allegations to the MPS in respect of the unlawful obtaining of personal information.

"These allegations have been assessed and an investigation has now commenced by officers from the Economic and Specialist Crime Command."

A statement from West Ham read: "We confirm the Metropolitan Police's Economic and Specialist Crimes Unit is dealing with the serious matter of a private investigator acting unlawfully.

"This is in relation to reported breaches of the Data Protection Act and Computer Misuse Act as a result of the unlawful acquisition of bank and telephone records belonging to senior executives at the club and the OPLC.

"We are advised that if found guilty of these crimes, those responsible can expect to receive custodial sentences. We have full faith in the police investigation into this matter and shall continue to provide the fullest of assistance to them."

The news comes on the day that Judge Mr Justice Collins ruled that the High Court should review decisions made by both the OPLC and Newham Council in the awarding of the stadium to West Ham after deciding that Tottenham had an "arguable" case.

The judge said the West Ham bid approved by the OPLC would remain on hold until the High Court had decided whether any decisions had been unlawful.

The High Court is scheduled to rule on the case following a hearing due to start in London on October 18.