A former High Wycombe officer resigned this week after accessing police records to carry out 21 "unlawful" checks. 

PC Marguerite Pope quit Thames Valley Police with immediate effect on June 18 - the day before a misconduct hearing was held at the force headquarters in Kidlington to probe her actions. 

The hearing, chaired by the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police John Campbell, found that if she had still been serving, PC Pope would have been dismissed. 

It had been alleged that PC Pope - who was based at High Wycombe police station - had accessed  information and a number of records other than for a policing purpose, and no reasons were given for carrying out these checks.

She had accessed two systems and carried out checks without a lawful policing purpose between January 11 and 12 this year.

Following a further review, it was identified that between June 12 last year and January 12 this year, former PC Pope accessed further information and records without a policing purpose.

She admitted carrying out a total of 21 unlawful checks. 

The hearing concluded that former PC Pope’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and had she not already resigned, she would have been dismissed.

PC Pope will also be placed on the College of Policing's barred list. 

Deputy Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: “The behaviour of this officer was far below that expected from Thames Valley Police.

“Former PC Pope behaved in a manner that was likely to bring discredit on the police service, and had she not already resigned, she would have been dismissed with immediate effect.”