Ex-Police Officer Caught Misusing Thames Valley IT Systems
A former Thames Valley police constable would have been sacked if she were still on the force, a Special Case misconduct hearing revealed on Wednesday (19/6).
Gross Misconduct: 21 Illegal System Checks
The hearing, chaired by Chief Constable John Campbell at Thames Valley Police HQ in Kidlington, found that former PC Marguerite Pope breached professional standards for discreditable conduct. Between 12 June 2018 and 12 January 2019, she unlawfully accessed police IT systems without any valid policing reason.
Investigators uncovered that Pope checked multiple records across two systems between 11 and 12 January 2019, and further probes showed more unauthorised access over the previous seven months. Pope admitted to carrying out 21 unlawful checks in total.
Immediate Dismissal and Barred From Policing
The panel ruled Pope’s actions amounted to gross misconduct. Had she not already quit, she would have faced immediate dismissal.
Her details will now be submitted to the College of Policing’s barred list, ensuring she cannot return to any police role.
Deputy Chief Constable Jason Hogg blasted the behaviour as “far below that expected from Thames Valley Police.”
“Former PC Pope behaved in a manner likely to bring discredit on the police service. Had she not resigned, she would have been dismissed immediately.”
