Former Northumbria Police inspector misused police computer pass on information on wanted man to his friend misconduct hearing told

Steven Appleton, who retired in December 2017, was based at South Shields police station in Millbank and worked in CID during his time with the force.

Now his former bosses have found four allegations – covering discreditable conduct, confidentiality, orders and instruction and honesty and integrity – have been proven following a three-day hearing held behind closed doors.

Documents relating to the hearings detail his contact with men named only as Mr X and Mr Y and range from March 2013 to June 2016, as well as an inquiry he made of the force's IT system relating to someone linked to his own family.

It sets out how he used the Police commuter system in breach of its data protection and inappropriate association policies and remained in contact with Mr X despite being told by his superiors not to.

The hearing was told the former cop breached the rules by:

*Using the force's computer system to access information about Mr X on five occasions and looked up details about his associates and premises connected to him without legitimate policing reasons

*On June 6, 2016, When Mr Y was wanted on suspicion of assault, he accessed information about him and premises linked to him when he was not an investigating officer, spoke to Mr X by telephone “on a number of occasions on that day” and rang the wanted man himself, passing on confidential information to him “directly or indirectly”

*Between September 2014 and June 2016, he “continued to associate with Mr X” making 495 calls or text to his mobile, met with him on at least six occasions and failed to report that as part of the force’s inappropriate association procedures

*In November 2015, he used the computer system to access information about an “individual, who was connected to your family at the time” in a search which was “without a legitimate policing purpose” breaching the force's rules.

Despite all four allegations being proven, the force has said it will not affect his pension, but he is now barred from working in any police role, including those with the College of Policing.

Superintendent Steve Ammari, head of Northumbria Police’s Professional Standard’s Department, said: “When we became aware of concerns relating to former officer Steven Appleton, we conducted a thorough investigation.

“Despite the fact he is no longer employed by the Force, it was important and right that we pursed formal disciplinary proceedings.

“We presented a case relating to four allegations of misconduct to an independently-chaired hearing which delivered a finding of gross misconduct.

“The actions of this individual were completely unacceptable and are in no way reflective of the professionalism displayed by officers and staff every single day.”

The force spokesperson previously said in relation to the hearing not being held in public: “Northumbria Police does not determine whether misconduct hearings are held in private or public.

“In line with national guidelines, this is a decision made by the independent legally-qualified chair of the hearing.”