More than 30 cops and staff face disciplinary action for looking up details of Sarah Everard murder
MORE than 30 Met Police officers and civilian staff face being disciplined for looking up details of the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard.
They used police computer systems without authorisation to find out about the arrest of PC Wayne Couzens.
Sarah, 33, vanished in March near Clapham Common, South West London. The Met said a serving officer had been arrested but did not name him.
Its Directorate of Professional Standards later launched an investigation into the suspected leak and are contacting about 35 people to establish their reasons for accessing the files.
Accessing police records without authority can lead to criminal charges for misconduct in public office.
Ex-Met Det Chief Insp Mick Neville said: “Anyone who has watched Line of Duty will know that the police anti-corruption squad can check who has viewed official records.
“We can only hope that the officers and staff who viewed them did so out of idle curiosity and not some dishonest purpose.”
PC Couzens will be tried at the Old Bailey in October for kidnap and murder.
Sarah, 33, vanished in March near Clapham Common, South West London. The Met said a serving officer had been arrested but did not name him.
Its Directorate of Professional Standards later launched an investigation into the suspected leak and are contacting about 35 people to establish their reasons for accessing the files.
Accessing police records without authority can lead to criminal charges for misconduct in public office.
Ex-Met Det Chief Insp Mick Neville said: “Anyone who has watched Line of Duty will know that the police anti-corruption squad can check who has viewed official records.
“We can only hope that the officers and staff who viewed them did so out of idle curiosity and not some dishonest purpose.”
PC Couzens will be tried at the Old Bailey in October for kidnap and murder.