A FORMER North Wales Police officer from Gwynedd has resigned from the force before he would have been dismissed after being found guilty of gross misconduct.
Andrew Nuttall, 28, of Stad Tan Y Coed, admitted computer misuse at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court on September 14, when he was handed a community order.
He was then subject to a police misconduct hearing, which was held on October 26, but which he did not attend.
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It was heard that, on November 27, 2022, Mr Nuttall accessed his North Wales Police issue laptop at home while off duty, but this access was without a policing purpose.
Mr Nuttall then searched specific systems, gaining details of personal information relating to a victim of an assault in an incident in Caernarfon the previous day.
He also established what the investigative strategy was, including the potential evidence gleaned that could have possibly identified himself as a suspect in this case.
On December 1, 2022, Mr Nuttall was arrested, and later charged with computer misuse.
Mr Nuttall was also charged with assaulting John Morgan by beating him in Caernarfon on November 26, 2022, but this was later dismissed after no evidence was offered.
As well as his community order, which comprises 130 hours’ unpaid work in the next 12 months, Mr Nuttall was also fined £614.
Amanda Blakeman, North Wales Police chief constable, said: “The public should not have to concern themselves with the honesty and integrity of those working within the organisation.
“It is obvious from the information I have heard during the course of today’s proceedings that former PC Nuttall’s actions were intentional, which heightens his level of culpability.
“In accessing the computer systems whilst off duty, he had access to details of the police report, his access was not for a policing purpose but relating to an incident he was involved in whilst off-duty.
“It could be considered that this was in order to gain information that could be used to his advantage.
“I expect the highest standards of police officers on or off duty. As I have said, I believe that our communities rightly expect police officers to be upholders of the law.
“Had he still been a serving officer within North Wales Police, he would have been dismissed without notice.
“His actions fell far below the standard that I and the wider police service expect from our officers.”
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