Officer sacked after using colleague’s computer to access confidential information

An officer who looked up information on a domestic abuse victim for someone who was a suspect in the case has been dismissed. Detective Constable Jessica Hamer – who joined Kent Police in 2001 – used a colleague’s computer while they were away from their desk, to access the woman’s personal details. The force said she accessed the woman’s name, address and crime report for no policing reason. Her then boyfriend – identified only as ‘Mr A’ – reported her after their relationship broke down, and she pressured him to drop the statement, a misconduct hearing in Maidstone was told. Mr A said a friend asked if he could help track down an ex-partner so he asked Det Con Hamer to help out, but told her not to get herself “in trouble”. “I later found out it was a [breach of responsibility],” he added. He claimed he did not know there had been a domestic incident between his friend and their ex-partner, and said Det Con Hamer told him she found a “marker” on the case so could not look into the matter any further. Representing Det Con Hamer, Kevin Baumber accused Mr A of carrying out a “character assassination” with a “splatter gun” approach of a string of “speculative complaints”. Mr A, who claimed he was “frightened” of Det Con Hamer after he was allegedly the subject of domestic abuse, harassment and coercive behaviour, said: “I don’t think she should be a police officer. I was under the thumb and controlled. I wouldn’t put anything past her. “I don’t think people who abuse their position should be in a job of authority.” At the end of a three-day hearing, Det Con Hamer was dismissed without further notice.