EX PC Michael Westbury Would Have Been Sacked After Conducting Searches On Police Systems Without a Lawful Policing Purpose

On 8 February 2021, a misconduct hearing convened via video and telephone conference and heard allegations that ex-PC Westbury had conducted himself in breach of the Standard of Professional Conduct of Confidentiality. The Panel found the allegations the Officer had conducted searches on police systems without a lawful policing purpose and disclosed police information without a lawful policing purpose proved.

The Panel found that the breaches amounted to Gross Misconduct and the outcome was a finding that, had ex-PC Westbury still been serving, he would have been dismissed without notice.