Post office worker sentenced for asking police to run check

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Post office worker sentenced for asking police to run check on future son-in-law http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/broml ... on_in_law/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A post office worker who asked a police officer to carry out an unathorised police check on her future son-in-law has been sentenced to 100 hours of community service.

Kamini Patel, 54, of Village Way, Beckenham, was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court today.

She had previously pleaded guilty to asking a Metropolitan Police Constable to carry out an unauthorised police check to find out if her future son-in-law had any criminal convictions.

In February 2011 a Police officer contacted the Directorate of Professional Standards [DPS] to report the incident.

An investigation was launched resulting in Patel's arrest on 4 March.

DI Claire Moxon, from the MPS Directorate of Professional Standards, said: "Police systems contain sensitive personal information that must be kept confidential.

"The officer did exactly the right thing and reported it straight away so that we were able to take action. We will take action against anyone who asks a police officer to conduct unauthorised police checks."

[weirdo]

Did He really have to report her? Did he, REALLY?

Now there's probably more to this than meets the eye, still, Ive known of thieving postmen get less.

[slave]

Did He really have to report her? Did he, REALLY?

Obviously one of the jobsworths that infest the force..

[fishtank]

Did He really have to report her? Did he, REALLY?

Obviously one of the jobsworths that infest the force..

He had no choice.
It's a criminal offence...he's a Police Officer.
It's what they do.

[NWpostie]

The Police National Computer holds a lot of sensitive information about you, right down to when you left the Country and come back, what club or societies you associate with, radical or left wing tendencies, Firearms licence granted or revoked and much more.....all covered by the Official Secrets Act, not for public information.

All this information is kept confidential for these reasons, only those that needs to know can look,

[slave]

Yes, well aware of the obvious bits.. He could have warned her, caution or whatever.. A bit OTT for a minor misdemeanour.

I mean, for f***s sake, all that community service for that, I've seen real criminals getting less or similar, just shows how f****d up this country is really.

And fishtank, not all police officers are equal, just like you get dickhead posties, doesn't mean we are all like that. Some like to do people, others offer a more reasoned common sense approach to their policing.

[NWpostie]

I think offence was for the intent and potential impact of using the PNC, an abuse of confidential information to destroy somebody's life.

[fishtank]

He could have warned her, caution or whatever.. A bit OTT for a minor misdemeanour.

As far as i can make out from the story he didn't charge her at all.
He reported it to the Directorate of Professional Standards which is what he has to do to protect himself from possible implication in a criminal offence.
In his position i would have done the same thing.
If it was your career and pension on the line i expect you would too.