Police Set Out to Investigate Prescott

The Scotland Yard is now investigating claims that John Prescott may have been in violation of anti-corruption laws by receiving hospitality from US casino tycoon Philip Anschutz.

Blair's second in command may have breached the 1906 and 1916 Prevention of Corruption Acts by his stay in the Colorado ranch of Anschutz, a super casino bidder.

Anschutz is the owner of the Millennium Dome and is in race to grab the license to build Britain's first super casino.

The complaint was filed by opposition party Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker.

Under British laws, ministers are forbidden to accept "hospitality or consideration received from a person or organisation which has obtained or is trying to obtain an official contract".

Prescott is already in hot enough water for not immediately declaring the stay July of 2005, and he has been found by MPs on the Standards and Privileges Committee guilty of breaching ministerial code.

Prescott has denied having any involvement in licenses or planning policies for super casinos.

"We have received an allegation of an offence under the Prevention of Corruption Acts 1906 and 1916, and we are considering its content," a Metropolitan police spokesperson said.