Police analyst admits accessing intelligence files without permission

56-year-old held 'position of trust' at Police HQ

A senior police analyst who accessed intelligence reports without permission will be sentenced in April.

Peter Michael Devereau, of Selbourne Drive in Douglas, had previously denied the offence but changed his plea to guilty during an appearance at Douglas Courthouse.

You can find out more HERE.

The 56-year-old, who is employed by the Isle of Man Constabulary at Police Headquarters, used a database system to search for information on his brother-in-law on or about 27 April last year.

The court heard his wife is currently embroiled in a ‘longstanding family dispute’ with him about an estate.

In his basis of plea Devereau said he’d never divulged the information to anyone else and had reported it to his line manager himself.

The court heard he held a ‘position of trust’ as his job enabled him to search the database without it being flagged.

Devereau’s advocate said his client had accessed the information inadvertently on previous occasions but had gone back this time to view the ‘forbidden fruit’.

"He has landed himself in these difficulties," he said, adding: "He was going through a difficult period in his personal life."

Asking magistrates to consider a conditional discharge so Devereau has ‘some sort of chance to resurrect his career,’ he said: "This conviction may well have significant consequences for Mr Devereau."

However the prosecutor challenged this saying: "Ultimately he has fessed up and he needs to take responsibility for his actions."

"I would submit a conditional discharge does not send out the right message," she added.

Adjourning the case until 11 April, whilst a social enquiry report is prepared, magistrates told Devereau: “This is a gross breach of trust”.

A charge of unlawfully obtaining personal data was dismissed by the prosecutor. 

Bail continues.