LONDON — Britain's police watchdog says a former officer has been arrested as part of an investigation into bribery of police by tabloid journalists.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said a 52-year-old man was arrested at his home Tuesday on suspicion of public-office misconduct and offences related to the data protection act.

It said the arrest came after Scotland Yard passed on information relating to its investigation of illegal payments to police officers for information. That probe is linked to Britain's phone hacking investigation, which brought down the News of the World tabloid.

The complaints commission said the arrest relates to the passing of unauthorized information to a journalist and the man remains in custody at a Thames Valley police station.