PCSO who misused systems 'would have been sacked'

Warwickshire Police said it regularly audits systems

A former police community support officer (PCSO) would have been sacked for misusing police systems and lying if he had not already resigned, a disciplinary hearing has ruled.

The former PCSO, whose name has not been released, accessed the laptop without permission while on sick leave in 2022 then falsely denied this to a supervisor, Warwickshire Police said.

He also accessed police systems and obtained confidential information which he then shared with a third party who should not have had access to it.

The support officer was found to have breached five standards of professional behaviour under the Code of Ethics.

He has also been placed on the College of Policing barred list, preventing him from working for the police in the future.

Det Supt Paul Thompson, head of the force’s Professional Standards Department, said police officers and staff "have access to a lot of sensitive information and data".

He added: "They are all fully aware this should only be accessed and shared if they have a specific policing purpose to do so.

"We regularly audit systems to check they are being accessed appropriately, and where they are not, we will take action."

Had the former PCSO not resigned from the force, the hearing found he would have been dismissed.

The outcome is subject to appeal.