BREAKING | Police Federation CEO Mukund Krishna Arrested in Major Fraud Investigation
City of London Police arrest three men on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position as part of a year-long investigation into alleged financial wrongdoing within the Police Federation
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Search warrants were executed at addresses across Wales, Somerset, London and Surrey. Police also searched the Police Federation’s national headquarters in Leatherhead, Surrey.
The operation has been given the codename Operation Kuat.
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In a statement, the City of London Police confirmed that three men had been arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position, contrary to Section 4 of the Fraud Act 2006.
Detective Superintendent James Halkett, of the City of London Police Domestic Corruption Unit, said the investigation remains ongoing.
“Over the last year the City of London Police Domestic Corruption Unit have undertaken a significant investigation into allegations of fraud by abuse of position in relation to the national Police Federation of England and Wales.
“On Wednesday morning, 4 March 2026, officers executed Schedule 1 PACE 1984 search warrants in Wales, Somerset, London and Surrey to arrest suspects and gather evidence.
“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.”
Police confirmed that a 46-year-old man from Surrey, a 51-year-old man from Wales and a 55-year-old man from Bristol were arrested as part of the investigation.
Media reports have identified the 46-year-old Surrey man as Mukund Krishna, the chief executive of the Police Federation of England and Wales.
The other two men are reported to be members of the organisation’s national board.
All three remain under investigation and no charges have been brought.
Detectives described the case as a complex investigation and said they are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry. A Major Incident Public Portal has also been launched to encourage anyone with relevant information to come forward.
The Police Federation of England and Wales represents approximately 130,000 to 140,000 rank-and-file police officers across England and Wales, including constables, sergeants, inspectors and chief inspectors. Unlike a traditional trade union, the organisation operates as a statutory staff association funded by membership subscriptions from serving officers.
Mukund Krishna, a former management consultant, became the organisation’s first civilian chief executive when he took on the role after previously serving as chief operations officer.
Freedom of Information disclosures published in late 2025 revealed that Krishna’s remuneration package was worth £701,100 per year for both 2024 and 2025. The package included a basic salary of £342,000, a retention bonus worth up to 100 percent of that salary and pension contributions.
The figure is more than twice the salary of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
The arrests come at a particularly sensitive moment for the organisation.
Just one day earlier, on Tuesday 3 March 2026, the Police Federation publicly called for a minimum 7% pay rise for police officers, warning that morale and recruitment were suffering.
Krishna has also faced controversy in recent months following a High Court ruling on 6 February 2026 which found that he had acted unlawfully when suspending two elected Federation officials over comments made in the media and on social media.
The court criticised the process and raised concerns about freedom of expression, prompting renewed calls from some within policing for Krishna to resign.
Financial controversy has also affected the organisation in the past. Previous cases have included national-level investigations into suspected misuse of funds and, more recently, the conviction earlier in 2026 of a West Mercia branch secretary for personal misuse of Federation money.
News of Wednesday’s arrests began circulating shortly before midday after Labour MP Jonathan Hinder, a former police inspector, posted about the development on X alongside a video discussing Federation finances and leadership pay.
The Police Federation of England and Wales had not issued a public statement at the time of writing.
The City of London Police investigation remains active and officers are continuing to gather evidence under Operation Kuat. Anyone with information relevant to the enquiry has been asked to contact investigators through the Major Incident Public Portal.
We will continue to monitor developments in this investigation closely as more information emerges. If charges are brought, further arrests are made, or the Police Federation issues a response, we will report it. If you want to stay informed as this story unfolds, make sure you subscribe to this newsletter so you don’t miss future updates and analysis.
