Published at 14:16, Thursday, 20 December 2012

A west Cumbrian detective and a former police officer have both been charged with an alleged data protection offence.

Detective Sergeant Jason Robinson, 41 and George Nevins, 61, a retired inspector, both of Workington, are each accused of conspiring to obtain or disclose personal data or information.

Nevins, currently working as a security employee, was an officer in west Cumbria until retiring from the force.

In a statement, the constabulary said Robinson was based in Workington at the time of his arrest in August this year.

“He was immediately suspended from duty and this remains the case,” said a police spokeswoman.

The charges follow an inquiry carried out by the force’s internal investigations squad, known as the professional standards unit.

Both men were bailed to appear at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court on January 31.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk