A disgraced West Mercia officer used police systems three times to conduct private searches on people he knew, Worcester News can reveal. 

Simon Albutt, a former constable of over 14 years, was barred from the force after being found guilty of gross misconduct during a hearing which took place last Thursday (January 20).

A previous statement released by police said the panel, led by an independent legally qualified chairman, heard how Albutt conducted searches on police systems "without a legitimate policing purpose".

However, no further detail on what Albutt had searched, or how many times he had misused the system, was released at the time.

In a fresh update, West Mercia Police has confirmed the 49-year-old, who mostly served at Wythall and Rubery, misused the database for private searches on people he knew as many as three times.

The searches were made between August 2019 and January 2020, and police say no information was passed on to any 'third parties'.

As such, they found the breach was so serious it amounted to gross misconduct and Albutt would have been dismissed without notice had he not already resigned.

He has also been added to the College of Policing Barred List, blocking him from joining any other UK force. 

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "The misconduct hearing heard that Simon Albutt had carried out three searches of people that were known to him on the force systems.

"The information accessed was not shared to any third parties. The searches were made between August 2019 and January 2020.  

"During the hearing it was stated that three searches were made and none of these were for a legitimate policing purpose and it was found he breached four Standards of Professional Behaviour; (i) honesty and integrity, (ii) confidentiality, (iii) orders and instructions and (iv) discreditable conduct."

Deputy Chief Constable Julian Moss, said: "We expect the highest standards of professional behaviour from all of our officers.

"Simon Albutt’s behaviour and actions while on duty breached the standards of behaviour that are essential in serving our communities, which is why he would have been dismissed from the force if he had not already resigned, and has been added to the College of Policing Barred List."