Leeds PC Sanya Shahid jailed for unauthorised police computer searches

PC Sanya Shahid, 31, was sentenced for nine months at Leeds Crown Court

A West Yorkshire Police officer has been jailed for making unauthorised searches on police computer systems.  

Leeds-based PC Sanya Shahid, 31, was sentenced to nine months in prison for three counts of unauthorised access to computer material.

Leeds Crown Court heard she used police databases to look for information on people she knew in October 2020.

Det Ch Supt Nicola Bryar said she "had no policing purpose" for the searches.

She said: "We make it very clear to all employees from the outset of their employment that they must only access information held on police systems for a legitimate policing purpose.

"The public quite rightly should expect that any sensitive and confidential information recorded about them is protected.  "It was clear from this investigation that PC Shahid had no policing purpose in making the searches she carried out on West Yorkshire Police computer systems. I hope this case helps demonstrates how seriously we take any suggestion of unauthorised access of data."

She added that Shahid was "currently suspended from duty and misconduct proceedings will now commence". 

An investigation into the officer had been carried out by West Yorkshire Police's Counter Corruption Unit, under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct.