Special constable quits days before Northamptonshire Police hearing would have sacked him

A special constable quit Northamptonshire Police before he was sacked for using the Force computer system to search for confidential information.

Michael Shortland resigned just days before a disciplinary hearing concluded he would have been dismissed for gross misconduct.

It was alleged Shortland "carried out searches and/or accessed confidential information without lawful authority and/or reasonable excuse, and otherwise than for a policing purpose" EIGHT TIMES between September 2018 and January 2019.

The searches related to Shortland himself and other members of the public

He did not attend the heading at Wootton Hall Park earlier this month which found the allegations proved and ruled what happened was "gross misconduct" and that Shortland breached a number of standards of professional behaviour, including order and instructions, confidentiality and discreditable conduct.

The disciplinary panel's conclusion read: "The special constable had resigned from Northamptonshire Police days prior to the hearing being held, and did not attend the hearing.

"The panel considered the available evidence and found the allegations proved and amounting to gross misconduct.

"The panel determined that, had special constable Shortland still been a serving Police Officer, he would have been dismissed."

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you