Officer fired for gross misconduct
PC Teresa Lines used the police database to check details on a man she planned on going on a date with
An Avon and Somerset police officer has been let go after allegations of gross misconduct were proven at a hearing yesterday (Wednesday 30 June).
PC Teresa Lines used the police database to check details on a man she planned on going on a date with. She also made a false entry into her notebook about reasons to attend his house and made a false allegation against the person who reported her.
Supt Jane Wigmore, head of Professional Standards, said: “Legitimacy is vital to maintaining public confidence and we expect all officers and staff to abide by a strict data protection policy when it comes to the use of police systems and accessing both sensitive and confidential information. PC Lines’ actions were a clear breach of this policy and there was no policing purpose for her to access the information she did.
“PC Lines went onto compound this lack of judgement with a false allegation relating to the person who reported this breach and a false entry in her pocket notebook – all in an attempt to conceal her actions.
“It is important officers and staff maintain professional boundaries, including with members of the public, and PC Lines failed to do that.
“The misconduct hearing panel, led by an independent Legally Qualified Chair, have listened to all the evidence and found allegations of gross misconduct were proven and have decided the sanction should be dismissal without notice.”