Kent police officer sacked for looking up abuse victim case

Det Con Jessica Hamer joined Kent Police in 2001

A police officer who looked up information on a domestic abuse victim for her boyfriend's friend, who was a suspect in the case, has been sacked.

Det Con Jessica Hamer used a Kent Police colleague's computer to access the woman's personal details.

A police misconduct hearing in Maidstone heard there was no policing reason to search for the crime report.

Ms Hamer had denied gross misconduct and breaching professional standards of behaviour.

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She joined the force in 2001 and made the search while on duty on 11 August 2014 at Margate Police Station.

Her then boyfriend - identified as Mr A when he gave evidence - reported her after their relationship broke down.

He said he asked Ms Hamer for a "favour" but not to get herself "in trouble".

The hearing heard how she tried to cover up her misuse of a police computer database and implicate another officer as the perpetrator.

Ms Hamer's defence barrister, Kevin Baumber, accused Mr A of carrying out a "character assassination" on the officer.

At the end of a three-day hearing, the misconduct panel said it understood that Ms Hamer was in a "coercive and controlling relationship" but said it was not possible to retain her services because it would undermine public confidence in Kent Police.