A former North Yorkshire Police officer has been convicted and sentenced after admitting to accessing police computer systems without authorisation.

Simon Barker, 36, from Leeds, was found to have carried out multiple unauthorised searches on an internal database while serving as a police officer with the North Yorkshire Police between 2018 and 2024.

In December 2024, Barker was barred from policing after being found guilty of gross misconduct in a separate matter, and it was then revealed that he had made numerous searches on an internal computer system without any policing purpose, after further enquiries were conducted.

According to investigators, Barker had a personal relationship with and links to the individuals he searched for.

He was arrested and subsequently charged with gaining unauthorised access to data, an offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.

Deputy Chief Constable Scott Bisset said: “North Yorkshire Police are very clear on the standards expected of all officers and staff with access to police information, and we have rigorous systems in place to audit this access.”

Barker pleaded guilty at Leeds Magistrates Court and was sentenced on 30 October to four months in custody, suspended for 12 months, ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, and pay a £154 surcharge and £85 in costs.

Deputy Chief Constable Bisset added: “The vast majority of our officers and staff do so with the highest levels of professionalism. Barker, however, abused the trust placed in him, and now has a criminal record as a result.”