West Mercia Police worker sacked for sharing information

The member of staff, who works in the Local Policing Directorate based at Hindlip, was immediately suspended following the West Mercia Police professional standards department investigation, and has now been sacked for gross misconduct.

The investigation concluded that the member of staff had found and shared information from force computer systems and given the information to a third party.

A misconduct hearing was held at police headquarters in Hindlip on Tuesday.

It is the second member of staff at the force to be sacked in two days, after another worker, who was not in a "public facing role" was fired after being convicted of child indecency on the internet.

Speaking about the latest dismissal, Anna Middleton, detective chief inspector of professional standards for West Mercia Police, said: "We expect all our officers and staff to uphold the highest standards of behaviour and the member of staff in this case has failed to do this.

"The chair of the hearing found that gross misconduct was proven and it is for this reason they have been dismissed."

Police have said they will not release the names of either person to be dismissed.

ACC Geoff Wessell of West Mercia Police said: "We will always be as open with the public as we can, and will withhold information only when we feel there is a sound and justified reason for doing so.

"As chair of the misconduct hearing, I have considered all aspects of this case, including the need for transparency and the specific circumstances of those involved, and determined that confirming the dismissal without identifying the individual was the proportionate and appropriate course of action."

The outcome of the misconduct hearing is subject to the normal appeals process.