UK Police Sergeant Dismissed for Using Picture Frame to Fake Work-From-Home Activity
A police sergeant in the United Kingdom has been dismissed from service and barred from any future role in law enforcement after she was caught using a deceptive work-from-home hack. The officer, identified only as Sergeant X by Avon and Somerset Police, employed a picture frame to weigh down her keyboard, creating the false impression that she was actively working during her remote shifts.
Investigation Uncovers Suspicious Keystroke Patterns
The misconduct came to light in 2024 when the force's Professional Standards Department flagged her keystroke activity as "significantly high." An internal investigation revealed that during most of her shifts, Sergeant X's recorded keystrokes were between three to eight times higher than those of colleagues in similar roles. This anomaly prompted a deeper probe into her remote work practices.
Sergeant X later admitted to investigators that she had used the corner of a picture frame to press down keys on her keyboard. This tactic prevented her laptop from entering "sleep mode" while she attended to personal matters away from her workstation. She cited personal challenges as mitigating circumstances, but authorities deemed her actions unacceptable.
Gross Misconduct and Public Trust Concerns
Assistant Chief Constable Craig Holden, who chaired the misconduct panel, concluded that her deliberate actions amounted to gross misconduct. Det Supt Larisa Hunt, head of the Professional Standards Department, emphasized that such behavior risks damaging public confidence in the police force.
"It is extremely disappointing an officer has behaved in a way which could not only discredit the police force, but also undermine the public confidence in respect of our duties and responsibilities," Hunt stated. "We know officers and staff deal with immense pressure and high workloads, and while Sgt X had some mitigating circumstances, it's unacceptable for an officer to act in this deliberate and deceitful way by abusing the trust placed in her, by making it appear she was working when she was not."
Hunt added that the overwhelming majority of officers and staff work diligently to protect the public, and this case does not reflect the broader commitment of the force.
Not an Isolated Incident in UK Policing
Sergeant X is not the first UK police officer to face disciplinary action for faking remote work activity. In a similar case last year, Detective Constable Niall Thubron of Durham Police was found to have engaged in "key jamming" to create the illusion he was completing tasks while working from home. He resigned before dismissal proceedings could be finalized.
In another instance, PC Liam Reakes reportedly accumulated more than 100 fake work hours by weighing down the "Z" key on his keyboard. He allegedly typed nearly 11 million Zs while appearing active on his system. Reakes also chose to resign before being formally dismissed by the force.
These cases highlight ongoing challenges in monitoring remote work integrity within law enforcement agencies. They underscore the importance of accountability and ethical conduct, especially in roles where public trust is paramount. The dismissals serve as a stern warning to other officers about the severe consequences of such deceptive practices.
