PC 'would have been fired' over accessing details

A former PC in Derbyshire who used police systems to access confidential personal details without authorisation would have been sacked had he still been serving, a chief constable said.

George Shepherd was found guilty of three offences under the Data Protection Act 2018 after a trial at Sheffield Magistrates' Court in July last year, which saw him pay more than £1,000 in fines, costs and a victim surcharge.

An accelerated misconduct hearing was conducted by Rachel Swann, the force's chief constable, on 27 February, and found the actions amounted to gross misconduct.

His details will be added to the College of Policing's barred list, preventing him from serving as an officer in future.

While noting there had been no issues reported with his performance as a police officer, Ms Swann said Mr Shepherd's "repeated" actions and a lack of recognition of the offences meant a final written warning would have been insufficient.

"The former officers appears not to consider that he has done anything wrong, despite having been prosecuted and convicted," she said in her report on the hearing.

"Although I recognise that not every case involving a criminal conviction will justify dismissal, this is a case where I can find little mitigation."

Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.