Officer in court over unofficial computer searches

A Metropolitan Police officer has appeared in court charged with misconduct over alleged unauthorised computer searches.

Matthew Olive, 26, of Southend-on-Sea, Essex, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday charged with five counts of misconduct.

Three of the charges related to unauthorised searches on police computer systems in which Mr Olive is alleged to have shared information in WhatsApp chats with members of the public.

District Judge Tan Ikram bailed him over the offences, which are indictable only, and ordered him to appear at Southwark Crown Court on 21 January.

Mr Olive is also charged with agreeing to the request of a woman to look up her telephone number on police computer systems without any legitimate purpose between 29 December 2022 and 1 January 2023.

He also faces another charge from 22 June 2023, which concerns offering to look up information on police computer systems relating to the woman without any legitimate policing purpose.