With the current focus on computers and the level of data being held on people standing at a high level, there is no doubt that the level of information that some police officers have access to is quite scary. Again, the vast majority of officers will be able to avoid this temptation but everyday people need to know that there are punishments in place for those who step out of line.
Data protection laws need to be observed
This is why the story of Kelly Hinds, a response officer, will be of interest to many people. Ms Hinds has pleaded guilty to a string of offences which are related to the Data Protection and Computer Misuse Acts. She has admitted six separate charges of misuse on a computer and a further four charges for breaching data protection. The sentencing will take place on the 10th of April and the situation arose when Hinds gained access to the computer systems to retrieve access which was passed on to third parties. These crimes took place between 2011 and 2013, which meant that there was a lot of information that may have been passed on. The fact that people may have been placed at risk or certain investigations may have been jeopardised by these actions is something that is likely to be punished quite strongly.It is quite likely that at some point in their career a police officer will find themselves in a situation where they have information, or have access to information, that may be relevant to other people. Whether it is old school friends wanting to get in touch with people or just relevant information that may impact on a local community, a police officer is likely to have access to this sort of information.
There is also the fact that some officers may find themselves being offered a large sum of money to pass on certain information. While a police officer earns a considerable age, the chance of earning additional funds is one that many people will seriously consider. Thankfully, the vast majority of officers do not succumb to these temptations but as in the case of Kelly Hinds, it is clear that some people, for whatever reason, do succumb to the temptation that is placed in front of them.
The fact that Kelly Hinds resigned back in February won’t be any great comfort to the people involved or indeed the court but it does indicate that she understands the gravity of her actions. There is a need for police officers and staff members to be above reproach and it is actions like this that will impact on many people and how they feel about the police. It is clear that some people will wonder why the rules apply to them but not the police, which is why it is important that all noted cases of this style of crime are put through the court and processed in the same manner as other crimes. There is definitely a need to ensure that people view police officers as being treated in the same manner when it comes to crime and punishment.
It is always a difficult time for those involved but when a crime like this is committed, it is important that justice is carried out. There will be plenty of eyes on the sentencing for Kelly Hinds to ensure that she is treated in the manner that other people would be treated.
Andrew Reilly is a freelance writer with a focus on news stories and consumer interest articles. He has been writing professional for 8 years but has been writing for as long as he can care to remember. When Andrew isn't sat behind a laptop or researching a story, he will be found watching a gig or a game of football.
