TAKING statements from 800 police over the "plebgate" affair is "a waste of time and resources", a force federation leader has said.

Scotland Yard investigators are taking formal statements from every officer in the diplomatic protection group, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation John Tully said.

This follows a pledge by Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe to hold "a ruthless search for the truth" over the row.

Mr Tully said: "There are upwards of 800 people in that command and they have all had to put pen to paper in some way. We have a lot of officers who live quite a long distance from where they work, and if they were sitting at home in Norwich when Andrew Mitchell was allegedly saying these words it seems to be a waste of time and resources."

Former chief whip Mr Mitchell was forced to quit his Cabinet post over claims, which he denies, he called officers "plebs" during an altercation in Downing Street. However, it later emerged an email from a civilian backing up the police account was in fact written by another officer.

Two people have been arrested and 30 officers put on the investigation.

Mr Tully said: "We wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't political.

"The officers who are dealing with this I'm sure have got as many other important or more important things to deal with."

A Scotland Yard spokeswoman said: "The allegations in relation to this matter are extremely serious and it is therefore vital a thorough and proportionate investigation is carried out."