West Mercia Police officer dismissed after ‘abusing power’

Detective Constable Thomas Lauder was caught accessing police systems without valid purpose to conduct searches on family members and associates. 

The 42-year-old was found to breach breached the professional standards behaviour of Orders and Instructions, Confidentiality and Discreditable Conduct, as set out in the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020.  

In his hearing, which took place across the last two days, it was revealed he abused his position between March 2012 and October 2022.

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Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Jones, said: “Thomas Lauder carried out numerous data breaches over a 10-year period whilst working for West Mercia Police, accessing information the general public would not have access to and without a proper policing purpose to do so. 

“Lauder abused his power as a police officer, which has a negative impact on the trust the public have in police, and therefore undermines the hard work and dedication of our officers.  

“Officers like Lauder have no place in our force and our commitment to removing them will continue.”  

Lauder was working as a trainee detective based at Malinsgate Police Station in Telford when the breach was discovered. 

He will now be added to the College of Policing’s Barred List, banning him from working for a UK police service in the future.  

The outcome of the hearing is subject to the normal appeals process.  

The hearing occurred at Kingsway House in Worcester and was chaired by Rachel Hartland-Lane, Director of Business Services. 

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