17 October 2012 Last updated at 15:49 ET

George Galloway's 'dirty tricks' claims: Met Police officer on restricted duties

George Galloway claimed the officer entered his home without consent

A senior Metropolitan Police officer has been placed on restricted duties after George Galloway claimed he entered his home without consent.

In an Early Day Motion, the Respect MP for Bradford West said the officer used an alias to attack him on Facebook in an "apparent dirty tricks operation".

Mr Galloway also claimed the counter-terrorism officer slept in his home.

Scotland Yard said it was voluntarily referring the case to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

In the motion, Mr Galloway states: "This House expresses its concern at the involvement of a very senior officer in the Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism branch SO15 in an apparent dirty tricks operation against the honourable member for Bradford West (Galloway).

"[It] notes that the officer entered the honourable member's London home without his knowledge or consent, the honourable member never having met or heard of him, and he slept in the honourable member's home."

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The matter has been passed to the MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] directorate of professional standards to investigate and a voluntary referral is being made to the IPCC.

"The officer has been placed on restricted duties pending the outcome of the investigation."