Police staff member obtained Snapchat info illegally

A Leicestershire Police staff member has been handed a suspended prison sentence after he tried to obtain Snapchat account information illegally.

Nadeem Said, a Single Point of Contact accredited officer, would request communications data from social media and phone providers to support police investigations.

But the force said Said had falsified an application to obtain user data for a Snapchat account, which was in contact with a person known to him. He then used this false application to unlawfully request data in relation to the account.

Said, 56, of St Margaret's Road, Birmingham, was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Northampton Crown Court on Friday.

Said pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to obtaining communication data from Snapchat, relating to a specific username, without lawful authority or a policing purpose to do so between 5 and 8 November 2022.

The force added it is the first time a police staff member has been convicted of the charge in the country.

Said had been suspended from the force while the investigation was ongoing. In September 2024, Said was dismissed from the force following a review of his vetting.

Chief Constable David Sandall said: "Said was trusted in his role to lawfully obtain communications data to support policing investigations.

"He clearly breached this trust placed in him to try and obtain data for his own personal information.

"These offences committed by Said undermine the hard work and dedication shown every day by officers and staff in force, and will not be tolerated.

"It is extremely disappointing to see a staff member in court in this way, but public trust and confidence in our officers and staff is of the utmost importance.

"We will continue to take action against any wrongdoing in force, and my thanks go to the investigation team, who have worked extremely hard to bring this case to court."

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