Police officer admits unlawful access to personal data

A former police officer has admitted accessing the personal data of members of the public "purely for their own knowledge".

A Dorset Police misconduct panel found the officer used a records management system between January 2023 and June 2024 without having a "legitimate or lawful reason to do so".

They were found guilty of gross misconduct on Tuesday and will be placed on the police barred list.

The force decided not to name the officer, who has now retired, as part of the proceedings.

In August 2024 the officer admitted being guilty of an offence under section 170 of the Data Protection Act 2018 and received a conditional caution.

During the hearing, they said after accessing some of the records they had contacted the person who was the subject of the data.

The force said there was no evidence that any investigation was compromised as a result, or that the former officer had disclosed the information to anybody else.

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell said the former officer's actions "constituted repeated unlawful behaviour".

"They directly contravened the training they had received in this respect," she said.

"I hope that the outcome of the hearing shows the importance we place on integrity.

"This former officer's conduct fell well below the expected standards of anyone working in our organisation, discrediting not just Dorset Police but policing as a whole."

During the hearing, it was noted that the former officer admitted the offences at the first opportunity and had shown remorse and regret.

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