PC Matthew Olive Pleads Guilty to Abusing Police Access for Personal Use

A former Metropolitan Police officer, PC Matthew Olive, has admitted to five counts of misconduct in public office after conducting unauthorised searches on police computer systems and sharing sensitive information with members of the public, including a journalist.

Appearing at Southwark Crown Court, PC Olive pleaded guilty to offences that spanned between December 2022 and June 2023, during which he abused his position as a police constable by accessing and distributing confidential police data without legitimate policing purposes.

The Full Charges Against PC Olive

The Crown Court indictment outlined the following offences:

1. Unauthorised Lookup of Journalist’s Phone Number (29 December 2022 – 1 January 2023)

• PC Olive searched the police database for the phone number 07540471245, belonging to journalist Rebecca Tidy, without a legitimate reason.
• Charge: Misconduct in public office – Abuse of police systems at the request of Rebecca Tidy.

2. Sharing Confidential Police Briefings and Images (5 May 2023 – 22 June 2023)

• Accessed and shared sensitive information, including briefings and images from the Forensic Imagery Management System (FIMS), regarding unidentified criminal suspects.
• He shared these details in a WhatsApp chat with Rebecca Tidy.
• Charge: Misconduct in public office – Illegally disclosing police intelligence.

3. Unauthorised Searches on Police Systems (21 June 2023)

• Conducted searches on police systems and shared images from FIMS with Ms. Faye Louise Osmund-Smith.
• Charge: Misconduct in public office – Unlawful data sharing.

4. Accessing and Sharing Private Information on a Case (24 May 2023)

• Accessed the Case Overview and Preparation Application (COPA) system to obtain details related to Jayden Chirewa.
• Shared this confidential information with Rebecca Tidy via WhatsApp.
• Charge: Misconduct in public office – Improper use of police intelligence database.

5. Offering to Search Police Systems for Private Information (22 June 2023)

• Offered to conduct further unauthorised searches regarding Rebecca Tidy without a legitimate reason.
• Charge: Misconduct in public office – Misuse of access to police records.

Maximum Penalty and Sentencing

Each charge carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment as misconduct in public office is considered a serious indictable offence under Common Law.

PC Olive is expected to face a misconduct hearing with the Metropolitan Police, which could result in his formal dismissal from the force.

Metropolitan Police Statement

Following the court hearing, Acting Detective Chief Superintendent Neil Smithson, who leads the Professional Standards Directorate, condemned Olive’s actions:

“PC Olive deliberately misused his position of trust, violating police protocols to access sensitive information for personal reasons. His conduct undermines the very integrity of the Met Police and erodes public confidence in our officers.

We are committed to holding officers accountable for any breaches of trust, and this case demonstrates that there are serious consequences for such misconduct.”

Next Steps and Public Appeal

PC Olive’s sentencing is expected in the coming weeks, where the court will determine the extent of punishment for his offences.

The Metropolitan Police urges anyone with concerns regarding misuse of police systems to come forward by reporting through their confidential channels or Crimestoppers at 0800 555 111.