Met PCSO Oguz Batmaz jailed for tipping off criminals

Oguz Batmaz was placed under surveillance by the Metropolitan Police in 2010

A police community support officer (PCSO) who tipped off criminals when cannabis factories had been discovered has been jailed for seven years.

Oguz Batmaz, 27, of Sidcup, south-east London, admitted conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and conspiracy to supply cocaine.

Southwark Crown Court heard he checked police computers to tell criminals what data detectives had on them.

He was placed under surveillance in 2010 after officers became suspicious.

Batmaz also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal class B drugs and a further charge of misconduct in a public office in relation to assisting to keep a person unlawfully at large.

He spent time with Wayne Farrell - a convicted drug dealer who had failed to return from prison leave in 2009 - and used his access to the police database to help the fugitive.

'Prime mover'

The court heard Batmaz was paid £5,000 to look for information for an associate using the police computer system and was also heard tipping off his accomplices about a cannabis factory discovered in Mayday Gardens in Blackheath.

Mark Auty, specialist prosecutor in the CPS Special Crime Division, said: "Oguz Batmaz was the prime mover in a drug dealing enterprise who routinely abused his position as a Police Community Support Officer to assist his criminal activities.

"Batmaz used his access to police computer systems to help his criminal associates, including Wayne Farrell, who had at the time absconded from prison, and Batmaz was fully aware of this, but declined to report it.

"As a result of video and audio surveillance evidence that clearly showed Batmaz and his accomplices were regularly involved in the supply of drugs, they now face punishment for their corrupt and criminal activity."

Commander Allan Gibson, from the Met's Directorate of Professional Standards, said: "Our investigation into an ex-PCSO exposed criminality and also highlighted very poor behaviour in a Safer Neighbourhoods Team, all who have now either left or been dismissed from the Metropolitan Police Service."

Eight others have also been sentenced, receiving jail terms of between six months to three years and four months, for offences including conspiracy to supply controlled drugs, stealing cannabis and conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, the Met said.

Batmaz resigned from the force on 9 January 2012.