Derbyshire Constabulary staff in court accused of leaking confidential police information

Two Derbyshire Constabulary call handlers have been charged with misconduct in public office, following an investigation directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), over allegations they passed confidential information to criminals.

Jessica Fitzhugh, 22, of Belper, and Ellie-Mae Doherty, 21, of Ripley, who worked in the force’s control room, allegedly accessed police systems in 2023 and 2024 and passed sensitive information to unauthorised third parties.

It is alleged they accessed data on police systems without authority, passed confidential information to unauthorised third parties, and failed to inform the force of an association with people involved in criminality.

Fitzhugh is additionally accused of taking images of data held on police systems without authority.

The charges follow conduct referrals by Derbyshire Constabulary to the IOPC in December 2023 and March 2024 and a subsequent investigation carried out by the force’s Counter Corruption Unit under the direction and control of the IOPC.

Both have been suspended from their roles within the force.  The pair were due to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Friday 24th April.