Trainee Officer Permanently Barred After Data Breach Scandal
A 20-year-old trainee police officer has been permanently banned from the profession after using police computers to pass confidential information to her drug dealer boyfriend while he was under investigation. Maryam Ilyas, a former West Yorkshire Police officer, was found to have accessed and shared police data inappropriately with her partner, identified only as Mr J, during a misconduct hearing.
Repeated Data Access and Relationship Concealment
The disciplinary panel heard that Ilyas used police computer systems to search for details about her boyfriend on three separate occasions between March and May 2025. The former officer, who had joined the force in June 2024, failed to declare her relationship with Mr J during her recruitment vetting process.
When questioned by investigators in January, Ilyas claimed she was unaware of his criminal history. However, evidence presented to the hearing told a different story. Catherine Hankinson, the force's former deputy chief constable, ruled that messages between the pair indicated an existing relationship continuing until July 2025.
The messages discovered by officers included pictures of money and conversations about drugs, painting a clear picture of the nature of their association. Despite this evidence, Ilyas denied any wrongdoing, telling The Sun: I was a student officer. I was really new to all this and I feel like I was expected to know everything straight away.
Gross Misconduct Findings and Consequences
Although Ilyas resigned before her misconduct hearing, the panel determined that she would have been dismissed from the force if she had remained. Detective chief superintendent Tanya Wilkins of West Yorkshire Police's Professional Standards Directorate stated: We make it very clear to all police officers, staff and volunteers that they must declare any personal contact with notifiable associations including criminals.
Wilkins emphasised that Ilyas had blatantly ignored this requirement and compounded her misconduct by accessing and sharing police data inappropriately, then lying about her actions. The detective chief superintendent added that this behaviour discredits the police service and undermines public confidence.
The panel found Ilyas had committed gross misconduct on multiple counts:
- Failing to declare her relationship during vetting
- Inappropriately accessing police data systems
- Sharing confidential information with a criminal
- Breaching standards of honesty and integrity
As a result of the ruling, Ilyas will be added to the College of Policing's Barred List, preventing her from gaining any future employment in policing nationally. This permanent ban serves as a stark reminder of the consequences facing officers who breach data protection protocols and compromise police integrity.
