Yahoo News Queensland police suspend officer who leaked abuse victim's details
The Queensland police service has suspended the senior constable who leaked the address of a domestic abuse victim to her violent former partner, more than three years after he first admitted hacking into a police database to access her details.
Police have been under increased pressure to sack Neil Punchard since the officer pleaded guilty to nine counts of computer hacking last month.
Guardian Australia revealed this week Punchard was appealing the severity of his suspended prison sentence – a process that could ultimately influence whether he is reinstated or sacked.
Related: Queensland police officer who leaked abuse victim's details lodges appeal
On Thursday, police released a statement that Punchard, who had been stood down from operational duty while facing charges but remained employed and paid by the service, had been suspended.
“A 52-year-old male senior constable from the road policing command has been suspended from the Queensland Police Service after being convicted and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months for misusing a restricted computer,” the statement said.
“The officer has appealed the court-imposed sentence.
“The officer had been previously stood down when he was charged with the offences.
“Further assessment of the officer’s suitability to remain as a police officer will be determined following the outcome of the appeal.”
Police disciplined Punchard in 2016 after he admitted during an internal interview to improperly accessing the police Qprime database – though he was not stood down, suspended or charged until late 2018, after years of public pressure and a campaign by the victim that has brought into focus more systemic issues.
The decision to act more decisively on the state’s most shocking computer hacking case comes amid a Crime and Corruption Commission public inquiry into public sector data misuse. The state’s police commissioner, Katarina Carroll, will give evidence on Monday.
It is understood the outcome of the appeal will ultimately dictate whether Punchard can be sacked or further sanctioned.
Under Queensland police discipline processes it is notoriously difficult to dismiss an officer.
