A POLICE worker spent almost three years unlawfully accessing highly confidential crime reports – only to be snared when she was caught messaging a man involved in "serious organised crime".
Joanna Miller committed dozens of data protection breaches while she was working from home in Gourock.
She resigned last year after Police Scotland launched an investigation, the Greenock Telegraph reported.
The 32-year-old, who was working as a criminal justice support officer at the time, covered her head with a brightly-coloured jacked in a bid to avoid photographers when she left Greenock Sheriff Court this week after confessing to her guilt.
Miller admitted accessing information from Police Scotland’s crime management system without a legitimate purpose on 18 occasions.
She also pleaded guilty to four charges relating to the obtaining and disclosing of personal data from Police Scotland personnel files.
Almost all the offences were committed while Miller was working at an address in Gourock’s Avonmouth Place.
The court was told that anti-corruption unit investigation was launched after police received intelligence that Miller was in contact with an individual who was under investigation for other matters.
Her conversations with the man came to light after his phone was seized and analysed by police.
Miller’s solicitor said her client had committed the offences out of "personal curiosity".
Miller initially faced a total of 44 charges, but her pleas of not guilty were accepted to the remaining 22 allegations.
The court heard that criminal justice support officers provide an administrative function within the force and are responsible for updating crime reports throughout the west of Scotland.
These members of staff have the ability to access, view, update or print crime reports which contain personal data on victims, witnesses and suspects.
One breach occurred on a date in November 2020 when she was not scheduled to be working.
The investigation found that Miller had repeatedly gained access to police systems without a legitimate policing purpose.
Miller’s line manager determined that she would have had no reason to view these reports as no requests were made to update the files on the dates they were accessed.
In November 2022, Miller obtained a photograph of a special constable and sent it to friends in a WhatsApp group.
She acted in a similar manner a few weeks later by disclosing a photograph of another criminal justice support officer.
Miller was suspended from her Police Scotland role pending the investigation, and resigned from the post in August last year.
Defence solicitor Amy Spencer said: “Apart from what your lordship has heard about sharing a couple of images in a WhatsApp group, there is no suggestion that any more of the information was shared with anybody else.
“There is no suggestion of any malicious intent.”
Spencer added: “Her life since the investigation commenced has been on hold.
“She has been unable to apply for jobs with this hanging over her head.”
Sheriff Sean Lynch asked whether the involvement of the man whose phone was analysed was "fortuitous" and that there was "nothing more sinister" at play.
A fiscal depute confirmed that while Miller had been in contact with the man, there was no suggestion that their conversation included the matters which brought her to court.
Sheriff Lynch told Miller: “Despite the concession that has just been made by the Crown, the fact of the matter is that this is a course of conduct which amounted to 22 offences over a period of almost three years.”
Sentencing was deferred until June 10 to allow the court time to find out more about her financial circumstances.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: "We are committed to building public trust and confidence, and maintaining the consent which is critical to our ability to keep our communities and citizens safe.
"We will investigate complaints against any officer or member of staff who does not live up to our standards and values."
