The Metropolitan Police has arrested one of its own officers on suspicion of being a member of a banned neo-Nazi group.

Counterterrorism officers raided a home in north London on Thursday and arrested a man, aged 21, before searching the property.

The force said the police officer worked in frontline policing and remained in custody at a south London police station.

The Met added that the officer’s status was under review, and the case had been referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.

"Whilst the investigation remains ongoing, at this time there is nothing to suggest there is any threat to wider public safety in relation to this matter," the force said in a statement.

The force did not reveal which neo-Nazi group he was accused of belonging to, though there are only two far-right extremist groups in the UK banned under terror law.

National Action was banned in 2016 while its splinter group the Sonnenkrieg Division - described by anti-racism charity Hope Not Hate as a "Nazi Satanist" group - was banned last week by Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Anyone convicted of being a member of, or offering support to, banned terrorist groups faces up to ten years in prison.