Police Federation boss is arrested for corruption alongside two others

The leader of Britain's biggest staff association for rank-and-file police officers was arrested this morning over corruption allegations.

Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) chief executive Mukund Krishna was detained by City of London Police on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position.

Officers also arrested two other PFEW national board members aged 51 and 55 for the same offence following a major financial investigation over the past year.

Former management consultant Mr Krishna received a total annual remuneration of £701,100 for each of 2024 and 2025, including a 100 per cent bonus for both years.

Detective Superintendent James Halkett, of the City of London Police Domestic Corruption Unit, said today: 'The City of London Police Domestic Corruption Unit are leading a criminal investigation into allegations of fraud made against three individuals connected to the national Police Federation of England and Wales.

'A 46-year-old man from Surrey, a 51-year-old man from Wales and a 55-year-old man from Bristol were all arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position.'

The force said its unit has been conducting the investigation into allegations of fraud by abuse of position contrary to section four of the Fraud Act 2006.

Police added that they carried out Schedule 1 Pace 1984 search warrants in Wales, Somerset, London and Surrey this morning to arrest suspects and gather evidence.

A Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has now been opened under 'Operation Kuat'.

Mr Halkett added: 'This is a complex and active investigation in which we are pursuing all lines of enquiry, and I would ask that anyone with further information related to our enquiries contact us via our Major Incident Public Portal.'

A PFEW spokesperson said: 'We are aware that three individuals connected to the Police Federation have been arrested as part of an ongoing police investigation.

'This is a live matter and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage. The organisation is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities.

'Our focus remains on continuing the work of the Federation and representing our members across England and Wales.'

A Metropolitan Police Federation spokesperson said:'The Metropolitan Police Federation notes today's news regarding the Police Federation of England and Wales.

'We will not be making any further comment currently as legal proceedings are ongoing - but on behalf of our members we will be watching developments with interest.

'The Metropolitan Police Federation, the largest branch in the country, is an autonomous branch of the Police Federation of England and Wales. Our work of proudly representing, informing and influencing on behalf of our 31,000 members continues.'

And a joint statement from Avon and Somerset Police Federation chair Tom Gent and secretary Marc Flavell said: 'Like many of our members, we were extremely concerned to learn of today's arrests involving individuals connected to the national Police Federation.

'We want to be absolutely clear to every officer in Avon and Somerset: this investigation does not involve our local branch, our local elected officials, or anyone connected to our operations here.

'The Police Federation have stated they will cooperate fully with the relevant authorities. As with any investigation, it is important that due process is followed and that no assumptions are made while the facts are being established.

'Our focus here remains supporting and representing our members of Avon and Somerset with integrity, transparency and professionalism and this will remain the case.

'Officers already face immense strain, from rising workloads to increased scrutiny and uncertainty over pay and conditions. We want our officers in Avon and Somerset to know this: your local federation remains stable, accountable, and focused entirely on you.'

Last November, Mr Krishna's total remuneration was revealed, confirming that he receives the biggest paycheque of any trade association or union leader in Britain.

Mr Krishna's annual salary was initially disclosed as £342,000 after a freedom of information request by a police officer.

But then, the PFEW also said he received a 100 per cent bonus 'retention payment' and a 5 per cent contribution of £17,000 to his pension for each year.

This took his total pay to £1.4million across 2024 and 2025 – which shadow home secretary Chris Philp said at the time was a 'staggeringly large amount of money'.

But the federation claimed at the time that Mr Krishna, who became the organisation's first chief executive in 2023, has helped save it tens of millions of pounds in liabilities.

Bosses said their liabilities over two historic group action claims by members which related to pensions changes and a cyber attack could have been £110million.

The federation settled both cases for £40million, saving it £70million, and said it had 'resolved potentially catastrophic legal risks at a fraction of the potential liability'.

The PFEW represents 150,000 police officers and is deemed a staff association rather than a union because police are legally banned from taking industrial action.

Mr Krishna graduated with a law degree in India in 2001, and took a post-graduate course at the country's International School of Business and Media immediately after that, according to his LinkedIn profile.

He subsequently worked at the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in London, and at the technology consultancy firm Accenture, before joining the Police Federation in 2019, first as a chief operating officer.

His profile states he also has a postgraduate degree in psychotherapy and counselling from Regent's University in London.

A further profile states he practises online and is an 'existential psychotherapist, trained in London'.

In it, he adds: 'My work focuses mainly on understanding who you are and your own feelings and experiences in relation to self and/or the other, in an ethical and non judgemental way.

'Through therapy we will bring clarity of thought so you become more aware of your self, your inner strengths and the choices you need to make to lead a fuller life.'