Officer pleads guilty over unauthorised searches on police systems

A Metropolitan Police officer has pleaded guilty to four counts of misconduct in public office over a series of unauthorised searches for information which he shared in WhatsApp chats with members of the public.

Police Constable Matthew Olive, 26 who was attached to the Professional Standards Directorate, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Friday, 7 March.

He previously appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 24 December.

Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Smithson, who leads the Professional Standards Directorate, said:

“PC Olive abused his position, searching confidential police systems to look up information for no other purpose than to satisfy his own interests and those who he passed information on to.

“His colleagues, and the public, rightly expect those who are trusted to access sensitive information to do so only for legitimate policing reasons.

“By misusing his privileged position, he will have done further damage to the trust between the police and the public that we are collectively working so hard to rebuild.

Following his guilty plea, PC Olive will now face a misconduct hearing at the earliest opportunity.