A former Essex police officer has been found guilty of gross misconduct.

Former PC Laura Kyle had been accused of conducting multiple searches of three people on police systems without a proper policing purpose between June 2012 and July 2013.

She was also instructed to attend two interviews in February 2018 in order to answer questions in relation to the allegations but failed to do so.

She had already handed in her resignation and left the force the same month.

Former PC Kyle failed to provide a proper or adequate account as to why she carried out the searches and why she failed to attend the two interviews.

At an Essex Police misconduct hearing held at Southend Civic Centre on Friday, November 2, a panel, chaired by Legally Qualified Chair Hazel Clark, found former PC Kyle guilty of gross misconduct having breached the standards of professional behaviour relating to confidentially and orders and instructions.

The panel ruled that if she had not already resigned she would have been dismissed.

She will also be added to the College of Policing Barred List which will prevent her from being re-employed in a policing role.

Detective Superintendent Scott Cannon, who was sitting on the panel, said: “Former PC Laura Kyle’s actions fell well below those we expect and demand from Essex Police officers and her conduct amounted to gross misconduct.

“In order to maintain public confidence and trust, it’s vital information held by the police is accessed only for policing purposes.

“There is a public expectation and legal requirement that information obtained in the course of policing duties is treated with the strictest of confidence and only used for legitimate policing purposes.

“She also had a responsibility to attend the two interviews to account for her actions which she failed to do and this was also a factor in the panel coming to its decision today.”