The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation into alleged leaking of official communications involving former ambassador to the US Sir Kim Darroch.
The culprit was urged to hand themselves in to police
Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu said: "Given the widely reported consequences of that leak I am satisfied that there has been damage caused to UK international relations, and there would be clear public interest in bringing the person or people responsible to justice.
"The investigation will be reviewed at every stage to ensure a proportionate investigation is undertaken.
"I would say to the person or people who did this, the impact of what you have done is obvious. However, you are now also responsible for diverting busy detectives from undertaking their core mission.
"You can stop this now. Turn yourself in at the earliest opportunity, explain yourself and face the consequences."
It comes hours after Donald Trump has said he wishes Britain's ambassador Sir Kim Darroch well following his resignation over his leaked diplomatic cables.
The US president said that he had been told that Sir Kim had actually said "some very good things" about him.
He added however that the British needed to stop their "leaking problems" just as the US did.
"I wish the British ambassador well," he told reporters in Washington.
Sir Kim resigned on Wednesday saying his position had become "impossible" after Mr Trump branded him a "very stupid guy" and a "pompous fool".
READ MORE: Get ready for the British cringe in our dealings with the US
Boris Johnson has said an account of his comments about Sir Kim Darroch during a Tory leadership debate were a factor in the resignation of Britain's US ambassador.
However, in an interview with the BBC's Andrew Neil, Mr Johnson denied that he had failed to back Sir Kim and said his comments had been "misrepresented" to the ambassador.
Mr Johnson said the day after the debate he spoke to Sir Kim who told him he had not watched the debate, but that someone had relayed his comments to him.
READ MORE: Sir Kim Darroch quits as British ambassador to US
Asked whether that played a part in the resignation, Mr Johnson said that what "somebody had relayed to him had certainly played a - had been a factor in his resignation".
Mr Johnson added: "I think that unfortunately what I said on that TV debate was misrepresented to Kim".
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