Freedom of Information Request Reference No: I note you seek access to the following information: 1 - The number of police officers who have been detected for illegally accessing the Police National Computer. 2 - The number of force civilian staff who have been detected for illegally accessing the Police National Computer. 3 - Please detail the outcome of those detections (numbers of police officers disciplined/prosecuted/suspended/sacked, numbers of police staff disciplined/prosecuted/suspended/sacked) 4 - Please detail for what purposes (where known) those police officers and staff unlawfully accessed the PNC I request the information for calendar years 2014, 2015, 2016 Jan-Dec DECISION In regards to Questions 1, 2 and 3 I have decided to provide a full disclosure which can be found against each question below. In regards to Question 4 - I can advise that whilst there is no specific field on the MPS Tribune database for what purpose the PNC was accessed, there is a summary field, which indicates a summary of the allegation. This summary has been redacted in part by virtue of section 40(2)(3) Personal Information, Freedom of Information Act 2000 (The Act) DISCLOSURE 1 - The number of police officers who have been detected for illegally accessing the Police National Computer. Police Officer/Special Constable = Total 36 for calendar years 2014, 2015 and 2016 2014 2015 2016 Total 12 5 19 2 - The number of force civilian staff who have been detected for illegally accessing the Police National Computer. Police Staff = Total 8 for calendar years 2014, 2015 and 2016.
2014 2015 2016 Total 4 1 3 3 - Please detail the outcome of those detections (numbers of police officers disciplined/prosecuted/suspended/sacked, numbers of police staff disciplined/prosecuted/suspended/sacked) Police Officer/Special Constable - Outcomes 7 Dismissal without Notice 2 Retired/Resigned 7 Final/First Written Warning 9 Management Action/Advice 11 Unsubstantiated/No Action/Not proven Police Staff - Outcomes 2 Dismiss without Notice if gross misconduct 1 Retired/Resigned 2 Final/First Written Warning 3 Discontinuance/No Action 4 - Please detail for what purposes (where known) those police officers and staff unlawfully accessed the PNC Please note that data has been extracted from the MPS complaints and misconduct database, Tribune. Tribune does not hold a field re the purpose for accessing the PNC, so the allegation summary has been used. However, this is a free text field which gives brief details of the allegation, so in some instances this will not identify why the PNC was accessed. Police Officer/Special Constable Summary Redacted Summary Officer had conducted PNC checks on the victim's vehicle (damaged). Officer conducted a PNC check on a vehicle they wished to purchase. The officer provided false details concerning the manner of driving and their identity to cause inconvenience. Misuse of PNC. Officer has carried out PNC, CRIS and Crimit checks on persons when no lawful authority to do so. Officer carried out checks on police computer after relative had a Road Traffic Collision. Misuse use of a police computer namely Inappropriate PNC Checks
Officer made a comment on social media, regarding a vehicle - details of which were thought to have been gained from the PNC Misuse PNC It is alleged that officers have conducted a PNC check on a vehicle without good reason as it was not for policing purposes. Officer failed to make an accurate record of the incident and the location of the PNC check. Officer completed unauthorised PNC, CRIS and CRIMINT checks on themselves and family. MPS officer has carried out an unauthorised PNC check on a vehicle and it's insurance details. Officer conducted an unauthorised PNC check. On at least one occasion been involved in the unauthorised use of PNC on a vehicle. On at least one occasion been involved in the unauthorised use of PNC on a vehicle. Conducted a PNC check. Information from the PNC check was then passed to staff member. It appears this was carried out for concerns for the staff member's safety. It is alleged officer inappropriately used the Police National Computer system to identify the registered keeper of a vehicle and then contacted the registered keeper. Officer asked another officer to conduct a PNC check on their vehicle to establish whether a valid certificate of insurance was in place. Report suggests the off duty officer may have conducted PNC or other checks on a person without legitimate reason It is alleged the officer has accessed information which is outside of their role and conducted CRIMINT / PNC searches that appear to have no link to core policing role and responsibilities. Failure in duty - Officer received a Notice of Intended Prosecution and then accessed the MPS intelligence systems in order to possibly establish a defence. Officer has accessed MPS databases and the personal information contained on such databases. Officer has potentially breached data protection looking on PNC for information about a suspect. An altercation has occurred between the officer and other driver; the officer has completed a public order crime report along with PNC and IIP checks in relation to this matter. Allegation that officer has misued PNC by conducting a vehicle check relating to an off duty Road Traffic Collision and then attended address in a private capacity to obtain information. The officer has used the MPS PNC to check own vehicle regarding a query they had with vehicle insurance.
Misuse of PNC system by conducting a check of a motor vehicle. Inappropriate use of PNC The officer deliberately made a false reason for searching the MPS intelligence systems for personal use, thereby attempting to dishonestly hide the search. Conducted an unauthorised PNC transaction. Officer has misused MPS IT systems including PNC, CRIS and Aware Officer appeared to be aware of police related information (PNC) in regards to a person in dispute with relative. Police Staff - Summary Redacted Summary Unauthorised use of the PNC. An allegation has been made that subject has made unauthorised checks via the Police National Computer on family and neighbours; and shared sensitive/confidential data relating to these checks with others. Allegation of Breach of Data Protection and misuse of PNC. Conducted a PNC check and found that relative of person was known to police and has shown the computer screen to clarify this matter. Involved in the unauthorised use of PNC on a vehicle. Completed PNC vehicle and name checks without a work based reason to do so and in breach of their responsibilities. Allegations of computer misuse. Carried out checks on PNC in regards to an abandoned vehicle parked in the street. They later contacted another police force as a member of the public passing on the information. Maintaining Public Trust in the MPS Securing and maintaining the trust of the community is integral to the principle of policing by consent and to continue to do so, the MPS recognises that its staff must
act with professionalism and integrity whether on or off-duty. The MPS treats each occasion when an allegation is made about the conduct of its staff extremely seriously and will fully investigate each incident to determine whether the conduct of that member of staff has breached the standards of professional behaviour. Where the conduct of staff is proven to have fallen below the standards of behaviour expected, the MPS will take robust action to ensure that its staff are appropriately disciplined and that lessons are learnt from each case. Any instance where the conduct of our staff is alleged to have fallen below the standards of behaviour expected is treated extremely seriously by the MPS. Information Rights Unit