Top cop sacked for sending secret data from home email
ONE of Britain’s most senior law enforcement chiefs has been sacked after sending ‘sensitive’ and ‘secret’ material using her personal email address.
Nikki Holland was dismissed by the National Crime Agency last month despite leading a major investigation into an encrypted phone network used in organised crime.
The former director of investigations at the NCA – dubbed Britain’s FBI – was found guilty of gross misconduct over ‘ serious data breaches’, it was reported. A disciplinary panel found two instances of gross misconduct connected to Ms Holland’s use of a private email. Misconduct was also found in two cases where WhatsApp was used to send sensitive NCA material, and where the platform was used on personal devices for NCA business. The agency said Ms Holland had no malicious intent and the matter has not been referred for criminal investigation. An NCA spokesman said: ‘Following a hearing that concluded on December 21, 2023, Nikki Holland was found to have committed gross misconduct. The allegations upheld against her related to serious information security breaches.
‘As a result of the panel’s findings she was dismissed from her position with immediate effect.’
Since Ms Holland was suspended in March 2022, the NCA has issued guidance to staff on the use of encrypted apps such as WhatsApp.
Meanwhile, the Independent Office of Police Conduct continues to examine separate accusations of data protection breaches, bullying and misuse of a corporate credit card against the former director of investigations. Ms Holland, who led the NCA’s Operation Venetic into those allegedly found using EncroChat – dubbed an Amazon for criminals – is also at the centre of another NCA probe, the Sunday Express reported.
This comes after it emerged during a recent Venetic prosecution that she told staff to set WhatsApp messages to ‘auto delete’.
The operation has seen more than 3,000 organised crime suspects arrested in the UK. More than 1,800 alleged EncroChat users have been charged, with around 400 already convicted.
Developed in the Netherlands, EncroChat boasted of being the most secure network in the world and was considered by its users to be impenetrable before it closed four years ago.
The system had 60,000 global subscribers, paying £1,500 for a six-month contract, and allowed users to order weapons, plot crimes or move drugs. It included a self-destruct system and a ‘panic password’ to wipe data.
It was infiltrated by French police in 2020, who passed the supposedly secret messages on to the NCA.
Ms Holland, who was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the 2019 New Year’s Honours, can appeal the termination of her employment.