THE head of Scotland Yard has condemned former police officers for making public comments regarding allegations that pornographic material was found nine years ago on the Commons computer of Damian Green, Theresa May’s deputy.

Cressida Dick, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, insisted the duty of confidentiality undertaken by officers continued even after they had left their posts and it was “quite wrong” for the officers to have spoken out in the way they had done.

Mr Green, who is the subject of a Cabinet Office inquiry, has strongly denied that he downloaded or watched porn on the computer. The results of the probe are expected within days.

Ms Dick explained to LBC radio: "Police officers have a duty of confidentiality. We come into contact with personal information very regularly, sometimes extremely sensitive.

"This is a daily occurrence for any officer. We all know that we have a duty to protect that information and to keep it confidential; that duty endures.”

She argued this duty continued “after you leave the service, so what this officer and, indeed, other retired officers, appears to have done is wrong and my professional standards department will be reviewing what has happened in relation to how information has been handled and if any offences are disclosed, we will investigate them".

Asked if prosecutions could occur in such circumstances, Ms Dick said: "Undoubtedly. If offences have been disclosed and that can be proved, it would be a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service, but there could be a prosecution.

"I've said before I don't want to give a running commentary on this matter. It's clearly sensitive, it's controversial and there is a Cabinet Office inquiry running in parallel, as you know, but today, it is appropriate that I say that what they appear to have done seems to me to be quite wrong."

She later told the BBC that she "condemned" the public comments made by ex-officers regarding the 2008 investigation.

"Based on my understanding of what they are saying, what they have done is wrong and I condemn it," added the police chief.

Asked about Ms Dick’s remarks, the Prime Minister's spokesman said he would wait until the Cabinet Office inquiry was completed before commenting.

"I have seen the Commissioner's comments; they speak for themselves. As for our own position, we will wait for this process to be completed," he added.

Allies of the First Secretary of State have expressed concern about comments made by two former Metropolitan Police officers regarding an investigation into UK Government leaks when Mr Green was an opposition home affairs spokesman nearly a decade ago.

Ex-detective Neil Lewis told the BBC last week he was shocked at the volume of pornographic material found on Mr Green's Commons computer and had "no doubt whatsoever" it had been amassed by the Tory MP.

The allegation echoed claims made by former assistant commissioner Bob Quick, who went public last month with his account of the material discovered during a police raid on Mr Green's parliamentary office.