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CCTV footage shows the exchange between Andrew Mitchell and police officers at the gates of Downing Street
The allegation a police officer falsely claimed to have heard Andrew Mitchell calling police "plebs" is "extremely serious", the Metropolitan Police say.
Mr Mitchell, who quit as government chief whip over the incident, has called for an inquiry, with friends arguing he should return to office.
A police officer was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of misconduct.
The Metropolitan Police said the issue went to the "very heart" of trust in police and promised to act "swiftly".
Channel 4 News has alleged that a police officer sent an email, purporting to be from a member of the public who witnessed the row between Mr Mitchell and police in Downing Street in September, in which he was said to have called them "plebs".
'Fast-moving'But CCTV coverage suggests no-one other than the officers involved was within earshot of Mr Mitchell, MP for Sutton Coldfield, during the incident.
The email was sent to Deputy Chief Whip John Randall, who passed it on to No 10. Mr Randall has given a statement to the police but has declined to comment further in public, saying he does "not wish to jeopardise the police's position".
End QuoteWhat began as a story about what was really said became a story about who leaked a police log, but is now much more serious"
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said he had been told the wordings of the email and the statements made by the officers involved in the row were "remarkably similar".
A Diplomatic Protection Squad officer was arrested on Saturday for alleged misconduct in public office.
Conservative MP Mr Mitchell has always denied using the word "pleb" but has admits he lost his temper and swore at the officers after they refused to let him cycle through the main gate.
He resigned from his post in October, following weeks of criticism in the media, but since the latest allegations he has called for a full inquiry.
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "The allegation that a serving police officer fabricated evidence is extremely serious. It goes to the very heart of the public's trust in the police service."
It added that it had "acted swiftly" and was conducting "a thorough and well-resourced investigation to get to the truth of the matter as quickly as possible".
The claim by the off-duty officer to have witnessed the incident has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The Met said: "If any evidence emerges of conspiracy this will form part of the investigation.
"This is a fast-moving and comprehensive investigation and the highly unusual events of the last three days have shown this inquiry will need to go where the evidence takes us as it progresses."
'Serious injustice'Earlier, Downing Street called the allegations over police conduct "exceptionally serious", saying they should be treated as a matter of urgency.
John Tully, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents officers in the force, said: "The Metropolitan Police Federation unequivocally and categorically refutes any allegation that it was part of a conspiracy to unseat a cabinet minister."
Conservative MP David Davis, a friend of Mr Mitchell, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme there had been a "clear presumption" in the media that the police were "saints" and that the former chief whip was among "the sinners".
He added that the email should have been investigated in more detail by Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, as this was "not exactly Sherlock Holmes" and that No 10 had made "daft decisions".
Mr Davis also said: "We've had a really serious injustice. He [Mr Mitchell] should return to high office."
But a Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister's clear view is that reasonable inquires were made."
He said that Sir Jeremy's investigation did include a review of the CCTV evidence. However, it is not clear whether it involved checking the accuracy of the police log at the centre of the dispute.
Mr Mitchell told Channel 4 News: "I always knew that the emails were false, although extremely convincing."
He added that his "lifelong support and confidence in the police" had been "shaken".
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