PRESS ASSOCIATION -- Former-News of the World Deputy Editor Neil Wallis, who was arrested over phone hacking at the News of the World on Thursday, was paid £24,000 by Scotland Yard to work as a two-day-a-month consultant.
Wallis was employed as recently as last year as sick leave cover for the force's deputy director of public affairs, a police spokesman confirmed.
The 60-year-old's contract was cancelled less than six months before the launch of Operation Weeting - the second investigation into phone hacking at News International.
Wallis was arrested in a dawn raid at his west London home on suspicion of intercepting mobile phones.
He was questioned for several hours at Hammersmith police station before being bailed until a date in November, Scotland Yard confirmed.