PM ‘shocked’ after aide’s arrest over child porn

No 10 disclosed on Monday night that Patrick Rock resigned last month after officials were made aware of a potential offence.

He was subsequently arrested and is now under investigation by the National Crime Agency.

Mr Rock has also been the subject of a complaint of alleged “inappropriate behaviour”, Downing Street has said.

“Obviously when I heard these allegations I was profoundly shocked and remain profoundly shocked today,” the Prime Minster said during a visit to the Midlands yesterday.

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

He told reporters: “He did play an important role at Downing Street and he’s resigned that position.”

Defending the delay in releasing the information, Mr Cameron said: “I don’t think it would be right to pre-emptively brief out a criminal investigation and that’s why we did not do that.

“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.”

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said the complaint against Mr Rock had been dealt with “very seriously” in accordance with the Cabinet Office’s human resources policy but declined to give further details.

Mr Rock, 62, has been close to Mr Cameron for many years – the two men worked together as advisers to Michael Howard when he was Home Secretary in the 1990s.

Mr Cameron’s spokesman confirmed that prior to his arrest and resignation, Mr Rock had been involved in formulating Government policy on internet pornography filters.