Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Sunday 6th April 2025 at 08:30hrs
A former police officer with Devon and Cornwall Police has been handed a 20-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, after admitting to leaking sensitive information from multiple police investigations to friends and family.
Samantha Hill, 33, from Plymouth, pleaded guilty to 18 counts of misconduct in public office at Bristol Crown Court on January 17, 2025.
In addition to the suspended sentence, she was ordered to complete 240 hours of unpaid work.
The investigation into Hill began in November 2021 following a high-profile murder inquiry in Plymouth. Concerns were raised after information related to the ongoing investigation, which had not been made public, began circulating on social media.
Detectives identified Hill, who was a serving police officer at the time, as the source of the leaked material.
The Devon and Cornwall Counter Corruption Unit launched a full investigation, leading to Hill’s arrest and the seizure of her mobile phone.
Examination of the device revealed a pattern of Hill accessing sensitive information that was not required for her duties. This included highly confidential briefings, images, and recordings related to a variety of cases.
The court heard that Hill subsequently shared these sensitive materials with members of her friends and family network. The information disclosed contained extremely personal and confidential details relating to a wide range of incidents, including shootings, suicides, and the aforementioned murder investigation.
Following the sentencing, Stella Waata from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) condemned Hill’s actions.
“As a police officer, Samantha Hill was in a position of trust which she gravely abused,” Waata stated. “She routinely accessed sensitive material for no policing purpose and shared it with people outside the force.”
Waata emphasized the severity of Hill’s breach of conduct, saying, “She showed a blatant disregard for the handling of sensitive information, falling significantly short of the standards expected of a police officer. Her criminal acts risked undermining public confidence in the police and the wider criminal justice system.”
The CPS spokesperson also highlighted the collaborative effort between the prosecution service and Devon and Cornwall Police in bringing Hill to justice.
“Through close collaboration between the CPS and Devon and Cornwall Police, Hill was left with no option but to plead guilty and face the consequences of her actions,” Waata added.
“The CPS is committed to diligently prosecuting such abuses to ensure the public has full confidence in those charged with protecting them.”
While Hill has avoided immediate imprisonment, the suspended sentence means she could face jail time if she commits further offences within the next two years.
The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of maintaining confidentiality and upholding the trust placed in law enforcement officers.
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