Policewoman illegally used the force's national computer 21 times to do ...

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A policewoman who illegally used the force's national computer 21 times to do background checks on relatives and people she knew has been found guilty of gross misconduct.

Pc Marguerite Pope quit Thames Valley Police on Tuesday, just hours before she was due to face a special case misconduct hearing at the force headquarters.

The panel, chaired by the Chief Constable, ruled that had Pc Pope not resigned, she would have been instantly dismissed from the force.

The officer, who was based at High Wycombe Police Station accessed the police computer no fewer than 21 times, checking out the backgrounds of individuals she knew or was aware of. There was no suggestion any of the checks were on partners but more on people she knew.