ALL nine of King George Hospital's external security staff have been arrested on suspicion of employee theft and conspiracy to defraud.

Three staff members were arrested by Seven Kings Safer Neighbourhood Team today at the Barley Lane institution, Goodmayes, with their six colleagues having been detained previously.

All have been suspended from duty and bailed to return to police on Monday, June 29, pending investigations.

A spokesman for Barking, Havering and Redbridge NHS Trust, which operates the hospital, said: "The trust’s Local Security Management Specialist has been working closely with the police regarding the arrests made at King George Hospital.

"The trust takes allegations of theft extremely seriously and the staff involved have been suspended while investigations are carried out.

"Patients and patient care have not been affected in any way by these allegations.”