A former West Midlands police officer secretly accessed confidential police systems without legitimate reason, a disciplinary hearing has revealed. Detective Constable Keeling, who served the force for 25 years, admitted to making numerous unauthorized checks that she “should never have undertaken.”
The misconduct panel found that Keeling showed a blatant disregard for rules governing data access and had no lawful right to view the sensitive information she obtained. According to the hearing, she “knew perfectly well what she was doing” and consciously chose to breach professional standards repeatedly.
Chief Constable Craig Guildford’s report stated: “She unreservedly accepts that her conduct amounts to gross misconduct and the facts of this case are not in dispute.” Keeling claimed her motivations were driven by curiosity and the desire to aid potential investigations, rather than any personal gain.
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Allegations against Keeling include unauthorized postcode and road name checks in November 2021 and December 2024, respectively. Additionally, in February 2024, she accessed a crime report without a legitimate policing purpose. The panel noted that some of her searches were deliberately misclassified as “crime investigation” to conceal their true intent.
Mr. Guildford described the repeated unlawful access as “highly discreditable and very serious matters which amount to gross misconduct.” He criticized Keeling’s actions as a systemic breach of legal obligations and a failure to uphold data confidentiality.
Despite no prior disciplinary record and strong character references highlighting her popularity and professionalism, Keeling’s actions resulted in a breach of the standards of professional behaviour concerning confidentiality and discreditable conduct. She retired on November 7, 2025, just before the misconduct hearing, which concluded on November 17.
This case serves as a reminder of the critical importance of integrity and respect for data security within the police force.