Access to police records for personal use - Metropolitan Police Service, June 2021
Between 2018 and 2021, while attached to the East Basic Command Unit, a police officer repeatedly accessed computer systems to view police records related to people who were known to him, without any legitimate policing purpose.
The officer viewed investigation records related to these individuals, one of whom was a close associate who had been charged and was awaiting trial, and did a check on police systems of his own vehicle after it was involved in a collision.
The MPS first became aware of allegations in June 2021. The force made a conduct referral to the IOPC and we began a directed investigation the following month, with enquiries being carried out by the MPS’ Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command under our direction.
Following the conclusion of the investigation in June 2022, a file of evidence was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised the charges.
At the conclusion of our investigation we also determined that the officer should face a misconduct hearing for potential gross misconduct.
In December 2023, an accelerated misconduct hearing was held where gross misconduct was found proven for breaching the standard of professional behaviour related to discreditable conduct. He was dismissed without notice from the MPS and has been placed on the barred list, preventing him from working in policing in the future.
The officer was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court in Janurary 2024, after pleading guilty in September 2023 to five charges under the Computer Misuse Act 1990 following a criminal investigation directed by the IOPC. He received a nine-month prison sentence, which is suspended for two years.
We carefully considered whether there were any learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system, and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.
In this case, the investigation has not identified any learning.