Manchester Cop Sacked for Gross Misconduct Over Data Breaches
Sergeant Richard Proctor, once a trusted officer in Greater Manchester Police’s City of Manchester district, has been kicked out of the force. An Accelerated Misconduct Hearing yesterday found his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, ending his policing career.
‘Made a Mistake,’ Cop Apologises
Proctor admitted errors and offered a sincere apology, saying he was “sincerely sorry” for his actions. But it wasn’t enough to save his job.
Abuse of Police Data Revealed
The hearing revealed that Proctor discredited the police by mishandling sensitive information. He accessed data without any policing purpose and shared it improperly. In September 2022, he pleaded guilty to multiple offences under the Computer Misuse Act and Data Protection Act.
- Checked on individuals linked to him on nine occasions without justification
- Shared sensitive information with third parties 22 times
Chief Constable: ‘Unacceptable and Deliberate Conduct’
Chief Constable Stephen Watson took a hard line. “Sergeant Proctor has breached standards of professional behaviour, including discreditable conduct and confidentiality. These proven breaches amount to gross misconduct, so dismissal without notice is the only appropriate outcome.”
Watson added, “Proctor’s actions were deliberate and persistent, involving very sensitive data and violating personal privacy. His offending behaviour is simply unacceptable.”
GMP Cracks Down on Corruption
Superintendent Phil Duffy of GMP’s Professional Standards Branch echoed the force’s tough stance: “Under new leadership, Greater Manchester Police is ramping up efforts to root out corruption. We are focused on making sure officers both new and old meet the highest standards on and off duty.”
Duffy warned that Proctor’s blatant disregard for police policy and law damages public trust. “The Chief Constable’s decision to sack Proctor is a clear message: criminal offences and misconduct won’t be tolerated.”
