A senior police officer has been appointed by Acting Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson to review the handling of the police inquiry into Home Office leaks.

Sir Paul has asked British Transport Police Chief Constable Ian Johnston to report to him within seven days.

In the meantime, the investigation team - who last week arrested Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green - will consult with the Crown Prosecution Service about further steps in the inquiry.

Mr Johnston, who is chairman of the Association of Chief Police Officers crime committee, has been asked to look into the Metropolitan Police's "decisions, actions and handling of the investigation", said Sir Paul.

The decision to call him in reflects concern at Scotland Yard over the political furore which has blown up over Mr Green's arrest on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office. The Ashford MP denies all wrongdoing and has been released on bail until February.

His arrest provoked a furious response from London Mayor Boris Johnson, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority and other senior politicians, including Conservative leader David Cameron, who described it as "heavy-handed".

MPs have questioned the decision to conduct a police search of Mr Green's House of Commons offices, which some regard as a breach of parliamentary privilege.

In a statement released by Scotland Yard, Sir Paul said: "I am properly concerned about the issues being raised within the continuing debate surrounding the ongoing investigation into the leaking of Government information.

"I have therefore appointed Ian Johnston, chairman of the Acpo crime committee and the Chief Constable of British Transport Police, to conduct an urgent review of our decisions, actions and handling of the investigation to date and to provide me with an interim report within seven days and a further report within two weeks.

"In the meantime, the investigation team will be meeting the CPS to review progress and consider next steps."

-Nova