Can police look you up
Discussion
Article today about police in the midlands snooping on friends etc. Got me thinking. A few years ago I knew someone in CID who was a bit of a prick. He regularly came to the pub and seemed to drop hints that he knew things about his friends. Seemed to get off on the power trip.
Do the police have to record why they are searching for records or people?
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-new...
Do the police have to record why they are searching for records or people?
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-new...
As a civilian worker in various data centres for MOD/government/NHS/NOMS (over 20 years ago though), we were warned of the consequences of improper use of the systems/data we had access to.
At the time I believed all searches were recorded, and regular audits would raise questions about improper use of the systems/data.
At the time I believed all searches were recorded, and regular audits would raise questions about improper use of the systems/data.
It seems to me the offices across our authorities don't work too well with each other. Meaning it is not easy I would think for any one office to get too much on you.
Compare that with Denmark where I lived and coppers ask you for your number (everyone has a civilian registration number) not your name, he enters it in his phone device...then tells you who you are, where you live and if any government office wants a word.
All in about 30 seconds of waiting, if that.
Compare that with Denmark where I lived and coppers ask you for your number (everyone has a civilian registration number) not your name, he enters it in his phone device...then tells you who you are, where you live and if any government office wants a word.
All in about 30 seconds of waiting, if that.
Previous council I worked at, a lady who was in refuge accommodation after leaving her abusive partner had her partner turn up on the doorstep and hassle her.
Complaint came to council, who had accommodated her.
A system enquiry revealed a council tax admin person had searched up this lady's address the day before in the ctax system.
Turns out this admin worker was the Mother of the abusive partner! She was suspended for gross misconduct, and subsequently fired.
This was a clear cut case though, so it would depend how well the pc could provide need for info.
Complaint came to council, who had accommodated her.
A system enquiry revealed a council tax admin person had searched up this lady's address the day before in the ctax system.
Turns out this admin worker was the Mother of the abusive partner! She was suspended for gross misconduct, and subsequently fired.
This was a clear cut case though, so it would depend how well the pc could provide need for info.
wjwren said:
Article today about police in the midlands snooping on friends etc. Got me thinking. A few years ago I knew someone in CID who was a bit of a prick. He regularly came to the pub and seemed to drop hints that he knew things about his friends. Seemed to get off on the power trip.
Do the police have to record why they are searching for records or people?
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-new...
The article is not about "police in the midlands snooping on friends, etc." it's about a single ex-police officer who, had he still been serving, would have been sacked for his actions, which amounted to gross misconduct. Which answers your question.Do the police have to record why they are searching for records or people?
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-new...
how long ago are we talking about the prick who "seemed to drop hints"? (What does that even mean?)
Your activity on searches etc is logged. In many cases permission is needed to gain access.
I worked as a civvy in our Ops Room. As such I was limited in access to some systems such as criminal records etc. We had an intel searcher who could search most systems and an Inspector running the room who could give the OK for searches and access higher security/content data. Officers could radio in asking for searches and results ( typical searches were for vehicle/ driver details). Results would be given plus any relevant additional data, especially warnings about threats to the officers ( known weapons user etc).
We had a Chief Constable resign over inappropriate searches of his daughter’s boyfriend amongst other breaches. These searches were not the main reason but added to the other issues.
The same monitoring of computer searches was in place in a private company I worked for, brought in when internet access was given to all employees.
I worked as a civvy in our Ops Room. As such I was limited in access to some systems such as criminal records etc. We had an intel searcher who could search most systems and an Inspector running the room who could give the OK for searches and access higher security/content data. Officers could radio in asking for searches and results ( typical searches were for vehicle/ driver details). Results would be given plus any relevant additional data, especially warnings about threats to the officers ( known weapons user etc).
We had a Chief Constable resign over inappropriate searches of his daughter’s boyfriend amongst other breaches. These searches were not the main reason but added to the other issues.
The same monitoring of computer searches was in place in a private company I worked for, brought in when internet access was given to all employees.
If it's anything like the outfit i work for - you have designated 'areas' where the system expects you to be looking. if you look outside these areas it flags in a report and you have to explain why you were looking at those details.
Looking up a member of your family (or yourself!) is gross misconduct and you'll be escorted off site by security before close of business that day.
Looking up a member of your family (or yourself!) is gross misconduct and you'll be escorted off site by security before close of business that day.
They can see and audit every key stroke you make on any system
You are generally treated as trusted and have access to the intel systems/PNC etc
However they do check and fairly often you can be asked to account for why you looked at a particular incident/intel record etc
Certain records will flag up a query and high profile incidents will be trawled to see who looked at them and you will have to justify why you did if you weren’t involved in the incident or based at the other side of the force area
As an example one night duty I stopped three of the suspects in a very high profile murder case and conducted PNC checks on them
Within 30 minutes my Inspector was called at 0400 and I ended up having to write a statement detailing the full circs before I went home from nights
Anyone daft enough to have searched their names for “curiosity” would deserve all they got
Misuse of the system is gross misconduct and a criminal offence, you can expect sacking as a minimum and possibly jail time
It’s drummed into people, what the consequences are … yet some still do it
You are generally treated as trusted and have access to the intel systems/PNC etc
However they do check and fairly often you can be asked to account for why you looked at a particular incident/intel record etc
Certain records will flag up a query and high profile incidents will be trawled to see who looked at them and you will have to justify why you did if you weren’t involved in the incident or based at the other side of the force area
As an example one night duty I stopped three of the suspects in a very high profile murder case and conducted PNC checks on them
Within 30 minutes my Inspector was called at 0400 and I ended up having to write a statement detailing the full circs before I went home from nights
Anyone daft enough to have searched their names for “curiosity” would deserve all they got
Misuse of the system is gross misconduct and a criminal offence, you can expect sacking as a minimum and possibly jail time
It’s drummed into people, what the consequences are … yet some still do it
Edited by Earthdweller on Friday 22 October 16:30
Bigends said:
Used to have a warning re misuse at every log-on, and once a month or so, a declaration to acknowledge in relation to misuse - so no excuse for snooping around the various systems, even those you had legit access to.
Don't forget the regular PNC audits on checks, if it wasn't in your PB or diary you were in the s
t.Rushjob said:
Bigends said:
Used to have a warning re misuse at every log-on, and once a month or so, a declaration to acknowledge in relation to misuse - so no excuse for snooping around the various systems, even those you had legit access to.
Don't forget the regular PNC audits on checks, if it wasn't in your PB or diary you were in the st.Mojooo said:
We'd all do it
If we could get away with it.
Allegedly
I can do it, but I don't for obvious reasons. If we could get away with it.
Allegedly
I'm not aware if anyone I've ever worked with doing it, anyone who abuses their position is very welcome to a P45 and everything else that goes with it. I'd happily put them in for it if I saw someone doing it.
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