A MARRIED police officer who searched the national database before dating a woman has been given a written warning.

A disciplinary panel found that the officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, breached conduct rules by searching the police national computer for personal reasons after the woman asked him out for a drink.

Identified only as PC A, the officer, who has been with Sussex Police for 19 years, was based at Hastings police station.

A hearing was organised by the force following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The seven-month investigation followed a referral from Sussex Police and looked at allegations that the officer had formed an inappropriate relationship with a woman and failed to declare it to his superiors. This allegation was not proven.

The disciplinary hearing was told the woman sent an email asking the officer if she could take him out for a drink after he investigated an allegation of theft from her son in 2017.

Evidence indicated that he had accessed information relating to her on police computer systems in 2018 and four out of the five allegations were proven.

The officer declined to provide an account for the IOPC investigation or to comment when interviewed under caution.

IOPC regional director Graham Beesley said: “This officer breached Sussex Police policy by accessing its computer systems for a non-policing purpose.

“Actions like this undermine the public’s trust in police officers who should know that it is entirely inappropriate to use police computer systems for personal reasons.”

During our investigation, data from the officer’s work and personal phones, his police radio and work email account were analysed.

An audit was conducted on his access of police systems and two witnesses were interviewed in relation to the allegations. 

PC A was questioned after another officer spotted him spending time with the woman, known as witness B, at her home.

On January 7, 2018, she wrote: "Thank you for the paperwork. On another note, if you ever wanted to go for a drink I would happily take you.

"Apologies if you are married or attached, but life is too short not to ask."

The following day, PC A responded: "I'm so flattered that you asked, and I would have loved for you to have taken me out, but I'm married, and the force takes a dim view on mixing business with pleasure, unfortunately.

"I have your number now and may well ring you if you are happy to chat."

Cecily White, counsel for the Appropriate Authority, said this was the first time he checked the police computer system.

"He conducts various searches in relation to her,” Ms White said. "He's considering whether or not to pursue a relationship with her.”

Later emails from the woman refer to PC A as “sexy”.

"Personal emails with a covering letter saying, 'Here you go, sexy'," Ms White added.

"Another personal email says, ‘Thank you, sexy.”

The officer told the panel: "I appreciate what I did was not done in the correct way, it was done with good intentions. Nothing malicious or dishonest about it.

"I've learnt a lot from my mistakes.”

PC A said he is no longer with his wife and now spends his time between his own flat and witness B.