Former Police Scotland staff member jailed for unlawfully passing on information

A former member of Police Scotland staff has today, Tuesday, 9 September 2025 been sentenced to six months imprisonment for unlawfully passing on information that he had accessed from 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 on 18 July 2025 at Dundee Sheriff Court.

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.

Chief Superintendent Helen Harrison, Head of 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 Gary Moran have no place in Police Scotland.

"Any officer or staff who fails to uphold the high standards we expect will be investigated and appropriate action taken."