PC accessed sensitive files while on leave - ruling

The hearing ruled that PC Amy Banks would have been dismissed if she was still serving

A former police officer would have been sacked had she not already left the force, a misconduct panel has concluded.

Essex Police said PC Amy Banks used police systems to view reports of ongoing incidents without "lawful policing purpose" while she was on annual leave and rest days

The panel heard PC Banks looked at several incident reports and unlawfully accessed three crime reports while not on duty.

The allegations were found proven following an accelerated misconduct hearing chaired by Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington on Tuesday.

PC Banks did not attend and did not dispute she accessed the records, the force said.

Mr Harrington said: "As police officers we are the gatekeepers of honesty, integrity and professional standards.

“These reports must only be accessed by those at Essex Police who have a specific and lawful policing purpose to do so."

He added: “Our officers are duty-bound to treat the sensitive information in these reports with respect.

"Ex-PC Banks failed to do this."