Former TVP staff member sentenced for Misconduct in Public Office – Maidenhead

Following a Thames Valley Police Counter Corruption Unit investigation, directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, a former Thames Valley Police staff member has been sentenced for Misconduct in Public Office and offences relating to participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group.

Catherine Arrol, aged 29, of Silver Close, Maidenhead, was sentenced to two years and ten months in prison today (9/9) at Reading Crown Court.

At the same hearing, John Arrol, aged 39, of Manor Lane, Sunbury-on-Thames, was sentenced to two years in prison.

Catherine Arrol pleaded guilty to three offences relating to participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group and four charges of Misconduct in Public Office at the same court on 14 November last year.

John Arrol pleaded guilty to three offences relating to participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group at the same court on 9 February this year.

Between 29 March 2020 and 4 June 2020 whilst Catherine Arrol was employed as a call handler at Thames Valley Police, she accessed information on police systems and shared that information with organised crime groups (OCG’s) who were responsible for importing and distributing class A drugs.

Arrol, working with her brother John Arrol, shared this information on an encrypted device with the OCG’s using the handle ‘paidlizard’. John was often the conduit between Catherine Arrol and the OCG’s.

Catherine Arrol also allowed her partner of the time to secretly listen into a telephone call whilst she spoke to a victim of crime.

An EncroChat phone and class A and B drugs were seized from Catherine Arrol's room.

Investigating officer DC Joshua Pitts of the Counter Corruption Unit, said: “Catherine Arrol was in a position of trust and she abused that position by accessing and sharing data with organised crime groups. She went further by allowing a member of the public to listen into a confidential chat whereby they were reporting a crime. This was a clear breach of trust that the public places in the police.

“It is essential for the trust of both our communities and our workforce that all members of staff are honest and trustworthy. Catherine Arrol’s behaviour fell far below what is expected, and she has been sentenced accordingly.”

LW

Notes to Editors:

The force does not hold a custody image of Catherine Arrol.