A former employee of Avon and Somerset Police has pleaded guilty to charges of computer misuse after conducting unauthorised searches on a police computer system for herself and others. Laura Dean, 33, who worked at Bridgwater Police Centre, appeared at Exeter Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 12 August.
Dean accessed the police computer system to search for information about herself and several other individuals. Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that none of the searches were connected to any victims of crimes Dean had professionally engaged with. She was granted unconditional bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, 16 September.
Dean resigned from her position at Avon and Somerset Police in September 2025. In parallel to the criminal proceedings, a misconduct investigation remains ongoing and will proceed following her conviction.
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Detective Superintendent Larisa Hunt, who leads the Professional Standards Department, emphasised the severity of the offence, saying, “The computer system accessed by Laura Dean contains records of crime reports, intelligence, and other highly sensitive data. Staff are authorised to use it strictly for policing purposes.”
She added, “All employees undergo training emphasizing the importance of accessing this system only when justified by policing needs. Users must consent and acknowledge these terms prior to opening the software.”
However, Dean deliberately ignored these protocols, conducting multiple searches she knew were improper. “Her actions were intentional, not accidental,” Hunt stated.
“The public places their trust in the police to access their data solely when necessary. This breach of trust is being treated with the utmost seriousness. Our Professional Standards Department led the criminal investigation and will pursue further misconduct proceedings as appropriate.”