UK police probing Google privacy complaint

* Metropolitan Police probe Google data collection

* Google cooperating, police not immediately available

NEW YORK, June 22 (Reuters) - London's Metropolitan Police are looking into a privacy complaint against Google Inc (GOOG.O) related to its wireless collection of consumer data, according to the privacy group that filed the complaint.

The group Privacy International said in a statement that the London police started looking into Google after it brought a complaint against the Internet search provider.

The Metropolitan Police press office could be reached immediately for comment.

Google had admitted in May that its cars photographing streets around the world have for years accidentally collected personal data sent by consumers over wireless networks.

The UK investigation follows a variety of overseas probes and class action lawsuits as well as a multi-state U.S. investigation announced earlier this week and an informal investigation by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.

The Web search leader on Tuesday reiterated previous statements saying that collecting the data was a "mistake."

"We are working with the relevant authorities to answer their questions and concerns," a company spokeswoman said.

Google has said that the data was accidentally collected by "Street View" cars, well known for crisscrossing the globe and taking panoramic pictures of city streets, which the company displays in its online maps product.

The UK privacy group said the police told it that an initial investigation could take eight to ten days after which the case could be brought to a specialist team. (Reporting by Sinead Carew; Editing by Gary Hill)