UK police arrest government worker for breach of secrets act

London police have arrested a 65-year old woman contracted to work for the British government on suspicion of violating the Official Secrets Act.

The Metropolitan Police said Wednesday that counterterrorism officers made the arrest, acting on intelligence information.

Arrests under the secrets act are relatively rare. The woman was arrested under section 1 of the 1911 act, which covers the unlawful disclosure of information “prejudicial to the safety or interests of the state.” It has been used in the past in cases of alleged spying for foreign powers.

The police did not identify the government department involved. The government said it would not be appropriate to comment on an ongoing police investigation.

Police are searching an address in north London, and the woman is being questioned at a police station.