Laura Dean, a former employee of Avon and Somerset Police, has been sentenced following her deliberate misuse of police computer systems. Dean, who was based at the Bridgwater Police Centre, pleaded guilty to 11 counts of computer misuse at Exeter Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, 12 August.
The 33-year-old received a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, along with an order to complete 140 hours of unpaid work during a hearing at the same court on Wednesday, 16 September.
Dean intentionally accessed the Niche computer system to carry out searches on several individuals, including herself. Importantly, none of these unauthorised searches were linked to victims of crime with whom she had professional contact.
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She resigned from her position with Avon and Somerset Police in September 2023. Alongside the criminal proceedings, a separate misconduct investigation is ongoing and will continue following Dean’s conviction.
Chief Inspector Jo Hayward-Melen commented on the case: “Laura Dean deliberately accessed sensitive personal data without a lawful policing purpose, fully aware that her actions were inappropriate.
“Although there is no evidence she used the information obtained, the public will be rightfully concerned that any police employee would behave in this manner.
“The fact that this matter was thoroughly investigated and resulted in criminal charges should provide reassurance about how seriously it was treated.”