A FORMER Dorset Police officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct following a public misconduct hearing.

An accelerated misconduct hearing was held at Dorset Police headquarters in Winfrith on Tuesday 15 April to consider an allegation that between January 2023 and June 2024 the former officer used a police records management system to repeatedly access data relating to others without having a legitimate or lawful reason to do so and that this access was unlawful and contrary of section 170 of the Data Protection Act 2018.

When interviewed as part of the investigation, the former officer admitted that they had unlawfully and improperly accessed personal data of members of the public without having a policing reason and purely for their own knowledge.

They also volunteered information about further such breaches they had committed, which were previously unknown. After accessing some of the records, the former officer contacted the person who was the subject of the accessed data.

There is no evidence that any police investigation was compromised as a result, or that the former officer disclosed the information to anybody else.

In August 2024 the former officer admitted being guilty of an offence under section 170 of the Data Protection Act 2018 and received a conditional caution. Subsequently, they retired from Dorset Police.

At the misconduct hearing they were found guilty of gross misconduct and the decision was made that they would have been dismissed from the Force without notice had they not already resigned. They will also be placed on the police barred list.

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

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Farrell, of Dorset Police, said: "The actions of the former officer constituted repeated unlawful behaviour – involving a number of breaches – and as an experienced officer they knew this. They directly contravened the training they had received in this respect.

"Police officers are responsible for upholding the law and when they themselves break it, this seriously harms public trust and confidence. The former officer was in a position of trust, should have treated information with respect and acted with integrity.

"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."

Following submissions, a decision was made that the former officer cannot be named as part of the proceedings.