Policeman sacked for 'inappropriate' checks on women

A policeman has been sacked for using the force’s computer system to make as many as 170 'inappropriate' checks on female crime suspects- in order to “forge a relationship with them”.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission found that the 24-year-old constable working within Merseyside Police had checked on the women after they had committed offences, in many instances “inappropriately” accessing images of them.

The unauthorised checks, which took place from October 2007 to October 2010, continued after the policeman had been warned in writing after he accessed information about “himself, his car and his family”. He also admitted to having a relationship with one of the women he had checked out.

"This officer has abused his position and the trust Merseyside Police placed in him,” said IPCC Commissioner Naseem Malik. “He accessed information about women apparently in the hope that he might then forge a relationship with them. This was disgraceful behaviour – made worse by the fact that he received a warning for a previous breach.”

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: “The ex-constable abused the trust that the police service and the public bestowed upon him.

“We, as a police force will not tolerate such behaviour and will take swift and robust action if any of our officers or staff are found to have deviated from the high standards we expect of them."