An officer has been dismissed from Essex Police for gross misconduct.

A panel chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Maurice Mason found that Detective Constable Lee Pollard, who was based in the Child Abuse Investigation Team, had breached standards of behaviour in relation to honesty and integrity and confidentiality.

In October 2013, he accessed, copied and disclosed another officer’s computerised application for a job promotion without the individual’s permission and then disclosed it to another officer who was considering applying for the same post.

Pollard accepted he had breached the standards of honesty and integrity and confidentiality.

He was dismissed without notice when the panel announced its decision following a hearing yesterday.

Mr Mason said: “Dc Pollard has been found to have lacked honesty, integrity and confidentiality, which are fundamental values that police officers need to portray in order to maintain public confidence in Essex Police.

“This was a deliberate and flagrant breach of honesty and integrity, and a significant breach in his colleagues’ confidence and trust.”

The hearing was the first misconduct hearing that Essex Police has held in public.