A POLICE officer used an offender database to check up on his former lovers, it has emerged.

The Slough based police officer, who's rank and name has not been revealed, used the Police National Computer to carry out unauthorised checks on the new partners of his former lovers.

His behaviour amounted to gross misconduct, a disciplinary panel has found, and would have resulted in his sacking from Thames Valley Police (TVP).

But the officer retired from the force with effect from Monday, April 30, before he had a chance to be fired. The officer was based at Slough Police Station in Windsor Road.

The "special case" misconduct hearing took place yesterday (Thursday, May 3) before Chief Constable, Francis Habgood.

A TVP spokesman said: "He concluded that Officer A would have been dismissed had he still been a serving officer and TVP will submit his details to be placed on the College of Policing’s Barred List."

The list is designed to stop former officers getting back into the Police Service elsewhere in the country because of their wrongdoing whilst carrying the badge.

Deputy Chief Constable John Campbell added: "The matters which were subject to the hearing were so serious that they amounted to gross misconduct, and the former officer would have been dismissed had he still be serving.

"We take our duties in relation to confidential information extremely seriously and anyone who does not uphold this responsibility has no place within our force.”

TVP said the officer had "breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in respect of Confidentiality and Discreditable Conduct".

The officer carried out the unauthorised computer checks between January 3, and October, 14 2015. The checks were made on the Police National Computer and Thames Valley Police’s own Niche database.