A former employee of Avon and Somerset Police has pleaded guilty to misusing a police computer system by conducting unauthorised searches on herself and other individuals. Laura Dean, aged 33 and based at Bridgwater Police Centre, appeared at Exeter Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, 12 August.
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed that none of the searches carried out by Dean involved victims of crime she was professionally connected with. Dean was granted unconditional bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, 16 September.
Dean resigned from her position with Avon and Somerset Police in September 2025. While the criminal investigation has been concluded with her guilty plea, a separate misconduct process is underway and will proceed following her sentencing.
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Detective Superintendent Larisa Hunt, who leads the Professional Standards Department, emphasised the seriousness of the breaches: “The computer system accessed by Laura Dean contains crime reports, intelligence, and other highly sensitive information. Access is granted solely for legitimate policing purposes, and all authorised staff undergo training emphasising this responsibility. Before using the system, users must give explicit consent, acknowledging that access is restricted to valid policing needs.
“Dean deliberately disregarded these safeguards and repeatedly conducted searches she knew to be improper. Her actions were intentional and cannot be seen as accidental.
“The public entrusts us with their personal data and expects it to be accessed only when necessary. This breach of trust is why we have treated these offences with utmost seriousness. The Professional Standards Department led the criminal investigation and will continue with the misconduct proceedings as appropriate.”