A former West Midlands police officer was found to have unlawfully accessed confidential crime records related to herself and her family over an extended period, a misconduct hearing revealed.
PC Pakhairzan conducted repeated “unlawful system checks” spanning more than a year, accessing sensitive information she had no authorization to view. These actions were described as “foolish,” motivated by curiosity rather than any policing necessity.
The misconduct panel determined that her actions were a serious breach of professional behavior and qualified as gross misconduct. Had she remained employed by West Midlands Police, dismissal would have been the likely outcome.
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In a report by then-Chief Constable Craig Guildford, Pakhairzan was criticized for consciously disregarding police training and legal responsibilities repeatedly. The report stated: “Her actions lacked integrity, respect for data confidentiality, and were thoroughly discreditable.”
Guildford also remarked, “The former officer’s deliberate actions, which she herself calls foolish, blatantly violated both the law and public trust. The evidence indicates she knowingly made repeated unlawful accesses.”
Between March 2021 and August 2022, Pakhairzan conducted multiple searches outside the scope of her official duties. These inquiries included crime reports involving herself, family members, and associates. For instance, on one day, she searched her own name and home address 11 times.
Additionally, she accessed details about an incident where she was a witness to harassment against a fellow police officer, and made inquiries relating to a road traffic collision involving her family.
During the hearing, Pakhairzan admitted she did not always recall the reason for all her checks, stating curiosity was a factor, and acknowledged that no one coerced her into accessing the information. She claimed she did not share any confidential data and suggested her inexperience contributed to her actions.
The misconduct panel concluded that she violated professional standards concerning confidentiality and discreditable conduct. Her abuse of privilege as a police officer constituted a significant breach of trust.
Pakhairzan joined the force in 2021 but resigned in November 2025, just before the misconduct hearing in late December. She admitted to the breaches and apologized sincerely.
Despite this serious misconduct, character references from two senior sergeants painted a picture of a diligent and well-respected junior officer, highlighting the complexity of the case.