Police officer based in Telford dismissed following gross misconduct hearing

The hearing found that trainee Detective Constable Thomas Lauder, aged 42, breached the professional standards behaviour of Orders and Instructions, Confidentiality and Discreditable Conduct, as set out in the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020.  

Between March 2012 and October 2022, T/DC Lauder accessed police systems without a valid policing purpose to conduct searches on family members and associates. 

He was working as a trainee detective based at Malinsgate Police Station in Telford when the breach was discovered. 

The hearing was held over two days (Wednesday 15 January – Thursday 16 January) at West Mercia Police’s headquarters in Worcester and was chaired by Rachel Hartland-Lane, Director of Business Services. 

Deputy Chief Constable Rachel Jones, said: “Thomas Lauder carried out numerous data breaches over a 10-year period whilst working for West Mercia Police, accessing information the general public would not have access to and without a proper policing purpose to do so. 

“Lauder abused his power as a police officer, which has a negative impact on the trust the public have in police, and therefore undermines the hard work and dedication of our officers.  

“Officers like Lauder have no place in our force and our commitment to removing them will continue.”  

Lauder will now be added to the College of Policing’s Barred List, banning him from working for a UK police service in the future.  

The outcome of the hearing is subject to the normal appeals process.