Cameron 'Profoundly Shocked' By Aide Arrest

David Cameron has expressed profound shock at the arrest of one of his closest aides over child pornography allegations.

Patrick Rock, who was deputy head of Downing Street's policy unit, resigned last month just before his arrest at his home in the early hours of February 13.

Mr Cameron said: "Obviously when I heard these allegations I was profoundly shocked and remain profoundly shocked today.

"I have to be careful about what I say about this issue because a criminal investigation is under way."

The Prime Minister also defended accusations of Downing Street secrecy over the issue and said: "But as soon as questions were asked, as questions would inevitably be asked, we have given very full and straightforward answers, which is absolutely the right way to answer this."

Mr Cameron, who was speaking during a visit to the Midlands, said he was happy the matter had been handled in an "absolutely correct way" by No 10.

He acknowledged Mr Rock played "an important role at Downing Street" but, he said, Mr Rock had resigned that position.

Mr Rock, 62, who is not married and is from west London, was one of a number of advisers and officials involved in drawing up the Government's policy on internet porn filters.

The search engine companies Google and Microsoft agreed last year to introduce changes to make it harder to find child abuse images online.

He comments came as Downing Street disclosed Mr Rock had also been the subject of a complaint of "inappropriate behaviour", which "was dealt with immediately at a senior level in full accordance with HR policy."

However, no further details were given about the matter.

Mr Rock was arrested after Downing Street reported concerns over child abuse images to police when officials became aware of the potential offence, it was confirmed on Monday night.

A spokesperson for Number 10 said: "Subsequently, we arranged for officers to come into Number 10 have access to all IT systems and offices they considered relevant.

"This is an ongoing investigation so it would not be appropriate to comment further, but the Prime Minister believes that child abuse imagery is abhorrent and that anyone involved with it should be properly dealt with under the law."

Mr Cameron brought Mr Rock into Downing Street in 2011 after working with him at the Home Office under Michael Howard in the 1990s.

He was a protege of Margaret Thatcher and is credited with coining the phrase "cows moo, dogs bark. Labour puts up taxes".

Mr Rock stood for MP in 1984 for the Tory safe-seat of Portsmouth South but after a disastrous by-election campaign he suffered a crashing defeat losing out to the then Liberal SDP Alliance candidate, Mike Hancock.

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