Ex-Thames Valley Police Call Handler Jailed for Corruption
A former Thames Valley Police (TVP) call handler has been slammed with a 34-month prison sentence for corruption linked to an organised crime gang.
Catherine Arrol, 29, pleaded guilty in May to three counts of participating in criminal activities and four charges of misconduct in public office. She was sentenced at Reading Crown Court on 9 September 2024.
Investigation Exposes Police Data Leak During Pandemic
The charges came after TVP’s Counter Corruption Unit, guided by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), launched an investigation triggered by an internal audit in May 2020. The audit revealed possible unauthorised access to police systems.
Arrol secretly accessed sensitive police information while working from home during the coronavirus lockdown and handed it over to an organised crime group. She was living with her parents and brother at the time, and investigators found that confidential police data was passed outside the force.
Brother Also Sentenced in Crime Network Case
Catherine’s brother, John Arrol, 39, who is not a police employee, also faced three charges for involvement in the organised crime activities. He pleaded guilty and was jailed for 24 months.
During a raid at Catherine’s home, drugs were found in her bedroom, adding to her legal troubles. She resigned from Thames Valley Police in October 2020 before a misconduct hearing, which concluded she would have been immediately dismissed if she hadn’t quit.
IOPC Director Condemns Breach of Public Trust
“All police officers and staff are in a position of trust where they have access to confidential and sensitive information on police systems. Catherine Arrol’s behaviour fell well below what is expected of any member of a police force and was a serious breach of the trust placed in the police by the public,” said Steve Noonan, IOPC director.
The investigation ensured both Catherine and John Arrol faced justice, resulting in their prison sentences.
