By Tony O’Reilly-
A probationary police officer who illegally accessed the data of 25 people using the PSNI’s computer systems was fined a total of £4,500 on Monday.
William Mallett pleaded guilty to 18 separate counts of unlawfully obtaining information contained in records held by the PSNI in its database and associated computer records.
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He also revealed that, as a result of this offending, the 33-year-old was dismissed from his PSNI role.
The fine was imposed at Belfast Crown Court by Mr Justice O’Hara.
He is one of multiple officers prosecuted for misconduct cases.
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Officers in his district have faced prosecution connected to sexual and racist cases, with over 130 misconduct cases in the past six months.
Prosecuting barrister David Russell told the court that that Mallett was a probationary officer at the time of his offending.
Mr Russell said that, after joining as a probationary officer in March 2019, Mallett unlawfully accessed the personal data of 25 people using police computer systems, adding that Mallett’s criminality as “persistent” and one which undermined public confidence in the police service.
The prosecutor said a charge of misconduct in a public office – which had been levelled at the former policeman – was left on the books.
Defence barrister Sean Mullan said that at the time of offending his client was an “inexperienced” probationary officer working in the ‘Volume Crime’ team.
Mr Mullan said: “By virtue of that role he would have had to use the police database for a series of enquiries. He accepts that on occasion he stepped over the mark and accessed personal data that he didn’t have a lawful policing purpose for and that is recognised in his guilty pleas.”
Mr Mullan confirmed Mallett lost his job as a result of his actions and has now secured other employment.
Mr Justice O’Hara raised concerns about the number of people whose data was accessed and the 15-month period the offending occurred.
He told Mallett: “There is no evidence that you shared the data with anybody else as that would have made your position significantly worse.”
The Judge imposed a £250 on each of the 18 counts which amounted to a fine totalling £4,500 and gave Mallett six months to pay.
Mr Russell said there was no evidence to suggest any material accessed by Mallett shared or passed on, nor was there evidence to indicate a financial motive. He did, however, brand Mallett’s criminality as “persistent” and one which undermined public confidence in the police service.
The prosecutor said a charge of misconduct in a public office – which had been levelled at the former policeman – was left on the books.
Mr Russell is one of several police officers who have faced legal action for improprieties.
Offences of a sexual and racist nature have been pronounced
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