South Yorkshire Police officer to face misconduct hearing

PC Christopher Hawke is to face a two-day hearing later this month over allegations that the officer accessed information ‘without having a legitimate policing purpose for doing so’ over as period of seven years.

The information is said to have been obtained between July 2009 and June 2016.

A second allegation facing PC Hawke is that the officer was found with confidential police information on his personal mobile phone.

If proven after the hearing, the actions would amount to gross misconduct.

South Yorkshire Police said: This is a hearing into the conduct of PC Hawke, a police officer from South Yorkshire Police, who is subject to the following allegations.

“It is alleged that between July 9, 2009 and June 11, 2016, the officer accessed information through South Yorkshire Police systems without having a legitimate policing purpose for doing so.

“Further, in or around 2018, it is alleged that the officer had possession of confidential police information on their personal mobile phone

“The above alleged conduct breaches the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to confidentiality and if proven would amount to gross misconduct.

“The hearing is being held in private as the allegations relate to access to police intelligence and the hearing needs to be in private to protect the sensitive and confidential nature of this information.”

Instant dismissal is an option open to police forces if gross misconduct is proven in disciplinary cases.