A West Mercia officer who used police systems for private searches has been barred from the force after being found guilty of gross misconduct.

Former constable Simon Albutt was found to have breached four standards of professional behaviour which amounted to discreditable conduct during a hearing which was held earlier today (January 20).

The panel, led by an independent legally qualified chair, heard how Albutt conducted searches on police systems "without a legitimate policing purpose".

They found the breach was so serious it amounted to gross misconduct and the disgraced officer would have been dismissed without notice had he not already resigned.

West Mercia Police did not provide further detail on what Albutt had searched, or how many times he had misused the system.

Albutt, who mostly served in Alvechurch and Wythall, will now be added to the College of Policing Barred List, blocking him from joining any other UK force. 

A spokesperson for West Mercia Police said: "A misconduct hearing concluded today (January 20) for former police constable Simon Albutt, chaired by an independent legally qualified chair.

"The hearing heard that Mr Albutt breached four Standards of Professional Behaviour; (i) honesty and integrity, (ii) confidentiality, (iii) orders and instructions and (iv) discreditable conduct, by conducting searches on police systems without a legitimate policing purpose.

"The breach was so serious it amounted to gross misconduct and the Chair found that he would have been dismissed without notice if he had not already resigned."

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."