Former North Wales police officer jailed for computer misuse offences
Emma Gardner sentenced to eight months following conviction at Caernarfon Crown Court
Emma Gardner, a former police officer, has been sentenced to eight months in custody at Caernarfon Crown Court for offences under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
The 47-year-old was found guilty in July of unauthorised access to data and accessing digital occurrences linked to a friend without policing purposes.
She accessed the data on 47 occasions between 20th January 2022 and 22nd September 2022.
Following the conviction, Deputy Chief Constable Nigel Harrison commented on Gardner's sentencing, emphasizing the breach of trust involved.
He stated, "Former officer Emma Gardner has now been sentenced by the court. Her behaviour was not only criminal, but far from the standards we expect from our officers.
"She was suspended during the investigation, and following her conviction she was subject to misconduct procedures where the Chief Constable determined had she not resigned, she would have been dismissed and has been placed on the barred list so she can never serve within policing again."
Gardner resigned before dismissal procedures could be concluded, and she has been placed on the barred list, preventing any future service in policing.
Deputy Chief Constable Harrison added, "She should have known better, and she breached our trust and that of the public."