Cop who used police system to snoop for info on crook pals sentenced for Computer Misuse Act offenses

Daniel Hughes, a former Merseyside police officer, was sentenced to a suspended 12-month prison term for breaking computer and data protection laws. Between 2016 and 2019, Hughes carried out unauthorized searches on police systems, often focusing on intelligence related to firearm and drug cases involving organized crime figures.

Between 2019 and 2021, he allegedly shared sensitive information about ongoing investigations with others. Hughes was arrested in March 2022, and his devices revealed evidence of his criminal associations. Despite denying all charges, Hughes was found guilty by a jury in June 2026. The judge noted that Hughes had no intent to profit from the information he transmitted and had previously demonstrated courage in his duties.

Hughes fostered relationships with criminals and their associates for over a decade, participating in WhatsApp groups and socializing with them. While having such relationships is not an offense, failing to declare them is. The Crown Prosecution Service described Hughes as a "corrupt" officer who disregarded training on maintaining impartiality.

Prosecutor Olivia Travis emphasized that Hughes ignored his duty to declare conflicts of interest and chose to ignore training on proper information handling.