Police call handler leaked information to criminal gangs via her brother

A former police telephone operator who, along with her brother, leaked confidential information to organised drug gangs has been jailed.

Catherine and John Arrol, 29 and 39, both admitted participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group after an investigation.

Catherine, who worked for Thames Valley Police (TVP), also pleaded guilty to misconduct in public office.

According to police, between March and June 2020, while working as a telephone operator, she requested information from police systems.

Together with John, she shared her findings with gangs via an encrypted device, under the name ‘paidlizard’.

According to TVP, John was often the link between Catherine and the gangs, who were responsible for the import and distribution of Class A drugs.

An investigation was launched and Catherine, from Maidenhead, Berkshire, and John, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, were both arrested.

An EncroChat phone and class A and B drugs were seized from Catherine.

TVP said she also allowed her partner to secretly listen in on a phone call while she was speaking to a crime victim.

Catherine later pleaded guilty at Reading Crown Court in November last year to three offences of participating in the criminal activities of an organised crime group and four charges of misconduct in public office.

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

Yesterday, Catherine was sentenced to two years and ten months in prison, while John was sentenced to two years in prison.

DC Joshua Pitts, from TVP’s corruption unit, said: ‘Catherine Arrol had 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 in on a confidential conversation in which they were reporting a crime. This was a clear violation of the public’s trust in the police.

“It is essential to the trust of both our communities and our staff that all staff are honest and trustworthy. Catherine Arrol’s conduct fell far short of expectations and she has been punished accordingly.”

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