A Cleveland Police officer who disclosed personal information about a man to his ex-partner as an “ice breaker” during the breakdown of his relationship has been dismissed with immediate effect.
PC Christopher Lowerson told his former girlfriend whilst off duty that the victim, who can only be identified as Mr A, was not able to join a gym. A disciplinary hearing heard how he obtained the details whilst he was on duty as a police officer in a sensitive environment and unlawfully divulged them to her in November, last year.
DI Steve Bell, for the appropriate authority, told the hearing how he visited her home address, he stated he had been on some training at work and the man had been brought up. He said: “He stated the police couldn’t stand him, couldn’t stand his attitude and used the term “dickhead”.
He said that PC Lowerson revealed that the man was not able to join a gym and the stuff the force had on him was “horrendous”. He said: “He stated Mr A wouldn’t live a normal life with Cleveland Police around and was seen with his child when he shouldn’t have been.”
The hearing, sitting at Scotswood House, in Thornaby, heard how the officer was going through difficulties in his personal life at the time.
Ben Tighe, representing PC Lowerson, said: “This is an officer who was going through, at the time, a very difficult relationship break down. It was tough to say the least. He had to endure various insults from his ex-partner.
“Concerns as to his ability to deal with his children. It’s with that in mind he made a very brief and very narrowing disclosure by way of an ice breaker in order to try and find some common ground in conversation.”
The hearing heard how PC Lowerson understood he had breached data protection and received a caution on February 8. He also accepted, during the misconduct hearing on Wednesday, that his behaviour amounted to gross misconduct.
It was alleged that by disclosing the information he had breached the ‘Confidentiality’ and ‘Discreditable Conduct’ standards of the Standards of Professional Behaviour. A second allegation related to him receiving the caution for knowingly or recklessly disclosing personal data, breaching the ‘Discreditable Conduct’ standard of the Standards of Professional behaviour.
The hearing was chaired by Cleveland Police’s new Chief Constable Mark Webster who said he was satisfied that both allegations amounted to gross misconduct. He said that the information for a professional purpose being disclosed as an ice breaker is a use outside public expectation and undermines public confidence. He said: “Mr A has been affected by the disclosure.”
DI Bell said PC Lowerson should be dismissed without notice with immediate effect and also be placed on the barred list. He told the hearing: “People have the right to expect privacy and not be subject to common gossip by a serving police officer.”
Mr Tighe urged Chief Constable Webster to hand his client a final written warning, which lasts up to five years, instead of dismissing him. He described the incident as a “one off” and an “isolated error of judgement” which is highly unlikely to be repeated again.
Mr Tighe told the hearing how there was no intent and no malice and he did not intend to cause Mr A any harm. He said: “It was quite frankly a very foolish thing to do at a moment where he clearly had no foresight.”
The hearing heard how PC Lowerson wasn’t afraid to make full admissions following the incident. Mr Tighe said he wanted to make it clear that he had done wrong and he wanted to face up to his mistake at an early opportunity, which he did.
He said: “What he wishes to make clear is that he understands that Mr A quite clearly will be worried to say the least about his disclosure. He will be angered by them. He absolutely understands and appreciates that and he apologies for that.”
Mr Tighe said PC Lowerson understands how hard he would have had to work to put his life back together and why he was so upset when he found out about the discovery.
Chief Constable Webster told PC Lowerson that he would be dismissed with immediate effect. He said he was aware that the information he received was sensitive and it was his responsibility to protect it.
Chief Constable Webster said: “You subsequently volunteered that information to another outside the police service without any policing purpose to do so. It’s clear from the start time that you received the warning as to the sensitivity of the information when you were in the sex offenders management unit.”
He said that representation was made on PC Lowerson’s behalf that the public would not consider this as serious if they were to understand all the facts. He told the officer: “However my view is that’s very unlikely to be the case.”
He added: “Trust is fundamental and non negotiable and it’s easily lost with incidents such as these.” He said that he had taken into account PC Lowerson’s service record and that there was no other incidents.
It has not been made clear, during the hearing, as to why Mr A was unable to join the gym. Cleveland Police have been contacted for further information.
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