By Tony ‘Reilly-
A Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer has been dismissed following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for passing confidential information to embassy staff without a legitimate policing purpose.
The officer, who held the position of a community engagement officer, had legitimate contact with the Algerian Embassy during an investigation in early 2019. However, the IOPC found that between March 2019 and December 2020, the officer continued to engage with embassy officials without informing or recording these interactions with their superiors.
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Between March and June 2019, the officer accessed police systems to obtain information about protests and protestors, which was then shared with embassy staff. Additionally, the investigation revealed that in 2019, the officer viewed police records related to a neighbour multiple times without any legitimate reason.
The IOPC initiated their investigation in February 2020 following a referral from the MPS. Upon concluding the investigation, the IOPC determined that the officer should face a disciplinary hearing for potential breaches of the police standards of professional behaviour.
The disciplinary hearing, which concluded this week, found the officer guilty of gross misconduct. The panel, chaired by a legally qualified individual who granted the officer anonymity, ruled that the officer had breached standards concerning confidentiality, orders and instructions, integrity, and duties and responsibilities.
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Consequently, the officer was dismissed without notice and will be placed on the police barred list.
Steve Noonan, IOPC Operations Director, emphasized the gravity of the misconduct: “Police officers are put in positions of trust where they have access to confidential and sensitive information. Viewing police records without having a legitimate reason and passing confidential information on to third parties is unacceptable and damages the public’s trust in police officers.”
Commander Katie Lilburn, head of the MPS’s Directorate of Professional Standards, reiterated the importance of maintaining integrity within the force: “Everyone who works in our organization knows that police systems must only be used when there is a legitimate reason for doing so and this officer’s behaviour was completely unacceptable. Honesty and integrity are at the heart of everything we do and we will identify and hold to account those who do not meet these values.”
The officer had been suspended from duty since the issues came to light in March 2020. The IOPC’s findings and the subsequent disciplinary actions serve as a reminder of the high standards of conduct expected from law enforcement officers and the serious consequences of breaching these standards.
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