Former member of police staff pleads guilty to data offences

A former member of Police Scotland staff has today, Friday, 18 July, 2025 plead guilty at Dundee Sheriff Court for the unlawful access of police systems while within his previous role as a call handler.

Gary Moran, 40, pled guilty to four charges under the Data Protection Act and one charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice.

The offences include accessing police records without legitimate policing purpose, and obtaining and disclosing personal information.

The crimes took place over a three year period between October 2021 and August 2024 when he was in his role as a call handler in the Dundee Control Room.

Moran was discharged from Police Scotland in relation to separate disciplinary matters prior to the conclusion of these criminal proceedings.

He is due to be sentenced on Tuesday, 9 September, 2025.

Detective Superintendent Nathan Calderwood, Professional Standards, said: “Gary Moran exploited his position as a call handler by accessing police systems to view records he had no business purpose for seeing. He further breached values by passing sensitive information on to third parties.

“Trust and confidence in police officers and staff is essential and people like Moran have no place in Police Scotland. Any officer or staff who fails to uphold the high standards we expect in policing will face the consequences.

"We will always investigate complaints against police officers and staff who do not uphold our values and standards."