Ex-Met Officer Admits Fiddling Police Data for Personal Gain
Former Met officer Ishmael Donegan, 26, has confessed to serious misconduct after unlawfully accessing police computer systems. He pleaded guilty to four counts of misconduct in public office at Southwark Crown Court this week.
Repeated Illegal Searches and Sharing on Snapchat
The scandal surfaced after a Met conduct referral in November 2021 triggered an investigation led by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). It revealed Donegan conducted numerous illegal searches of confidential data between December 2019 and March 2022.
Shockingly, he shared sensitive police info with friends — including via Snapchat — and repeatedly snooped on people he knew personally. One woman was targeted in more than 80 unauthorised searches.
IOPC Slams ‘Unfit’ Officer for Betraying Public Trust
“DC Donegan was clearly not fit to be a police officer, and his deliberate actions showed a lack of any regard for the rules in place around accessing police records,” said IOPC director Steve Noonan.
Noonan stressed how vital it is that officers maintain trust and integrity, taking a dim view of Donegan’s flagrant breach of confidentiality.
Disciplinary Action Looms as Prosecution Wraps
The Crown Prosecution Service formally charged Donegan after the inquiry closed in January 2023. Following his guilty plea, the IOPC is working with the Met to decide on disciplinary measures.
This case is a stark warning about the heavy responsibilities police officers shoulder and the severe consequences when they abuse their power.
