Ex-town cop sentenced for sharing top secret info on WhatsApp
HER ACTIONS WERE DESCRIBED BY POLICE WATCHDOG AS ‘COMPLETE BETRAYAL OF PUBLIC TRUST’
A POLICE officer has been given a suspended sentence after she e shared a picture of confidential l police intelligence over WhatsApp. p.
Former Humberside PC Kate e Elston sent the top secret information to a member of the public after snapping a picture of a confidential briefing sheet on a computer in August 2020. A court heard Elston had shared further information to the same person on multiple occasions between February 2019 and September 2020.
The officer was jailed for six months, suspended for two years, at Leeds Crown Court this morning (Friday) following a lengthy investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). It was also heard in court how the Grimsby-based PC was barred from the policing list over the offence.
Investigations into Elston began in September 2020, one month after sharing the picture on WhatsApp, and she was arrested at Grimsby Police Station on October 5, 2020, on suspicion of corrupt or improper exercise of police powers. Probing Elston’s case, the IOPC later discovered other occasions where she’d shared confidential information, including emails and pictures of crime scenes she’d attended.
The police watchdog later agreed with Humberside that evidence against Elston’s case was enough to be referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, and she later appeared at Grimsby Magistrate’s Court in February this year. The force has described her misconduct as a “troubling case” which involved “highly confidential information”.
Detective Superintendent Matt Baldwin, head of the force’s Professional Standards Department, said: “Breaches of this nature are always viewed with the utmost seriousness as the impact they can have on investigations can be significant. We expect the highest degree of professionalism and integrity amongst our officers and staff and anyone who is found to be in breach of this will be dealt with.”
Steve Noonan, Director of Major Investigations at the IOPC, meanwhile said her conduct had been “audacious, corrupt and criminal”. “Disclosing confidential information without reasonable excuse or justification can significantly damage the trust and confidence that members of the public place in the police,” he said.
“Her actions were a complete betrayal of the public’s trust and have no place in policing. The evidence we have seen points towards this being an isolated case of police corruption but the outcome sends a clear message to any officer who conducts themselves in such a way – they face serious consequences and will be held to account.”
“Forces have a key role to play in tackling issues like this and I would like to thank the team at Humberside Police for their professionalism and thorough investigation that has ultimately led to the sentencing today.”
As well as the criminal charge, Elston was subjected to a misconduct hearing by the force, but resigned before the hearing in November last year. The hearing concluded she would have been dismissed regardless, and she was barred from the policing list.
As well as the suspended sentence on Friday, Elston was ordered by the court to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.