A West Midlands Police sergeant has been found guilty of gross misconduct after deliberately accessing confidential police systems for personal purposes, a disciplinary hearing concluded.
Misconduct Details
PS Cooper accessed a domestic incident log in November 2022 and conducted unauthorized person searches in December. The panel found that he 'deliberately and intentionally' accessed information 'for a personal purpose'.
Defense Rejected
Cooper blamed 'stress' and 'ill health' for his actions but provided no medical evidence to support his claims. The disciplinary panel rejected his explanation that it was an 'isolated lapse'.
Panel chair Julia Debenham stated: 'His behaviour amounts to gross misconduct as it seriously undermines public trust and confidence in policing.'
Outcome
The former sergeant would have been dismissed had he still been employed by West Midlands Police when the hearing concluded in May. Cooper resigned on 22 April. The panel found the harm to be 'high', emphasizing that 'the public expect police officers to maintain the confidentiality of sensitive personal data.'
This case highlights the serious consequences of unauthorized access to police systems and the importance of maintaining public trust.
