A criminal investigation has been launched into allegations of anti-Semitic hate crimes within the Labour party, Scotland Yard has said.
In a statement, the Met Police said they were handed a folder of paperwork on Tuesday 4 September following a radio interview with LBC.
“The complainant alleged that the documentation included evidence of anti-Semitic hate crimes. The contents have been examined by specialist officers.
“A criminal investigation has commenced into some of the allegations within the documentation,” the statement said.
Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said it “appears there may have been crime committed” after being passed the dossier.
The Crown Prosecution Service has been approached for early investigative advice.
The Met Police said it will not comment further on the details of the investigation.
HuffPost UK understands that the Labour party has not yet been contacted by the police regarding the investigation.
A spokesman for the Labour Party said: “The Labour Party has a robust system for investigating complaints of alleged breaches of Labour party rules by its members.
“Where someone feels they have been a victim of crime, they should report it to the police in the usual way.”
Deputy leader Tom Watson said the Scotland Yard announcement was “thoroughly depressing” but “sadly I’m not surprised”.
Labour has been engulfed by bitter divisions over its handling of anti-Semitism.
Jeremy Corbyn has faced intense criticism over his response to claims about prejudice against Jews in the party.
But some of his supporters have claimed the issue has been used as a way to attack the Labour leader.