Kathryn Smith: Police sack Dale Cregan call handler

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-27391652

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A call handler who leaked information about the hunt for police killer Dale Cregan has been sacked by Greater Manchester Police (GMP).

Kathryn Smith, 25, was cleared of misconduct in a public office in February at Manchester Crown Court.

But a GMP statement said Ms Smith's actions "fell far below the standards" it expected from staff.

Cregan was jailed last June for four murders, including those of PCs Fiona Bone and Nicola Hughes.

Ms Smith, whose father is a police inspector, was cleared of looking for and disclosing information.

Her boyfriend Sean Booth, 31, and Cregan's mother Anita, were acquitted of aiding and abetting her to offend.

Grenade attack

GMP said: "While the court found no criminal offences took place, the actions of the staff member in disclosing confidential police information and compromising a member of the public, who had the right to expect that information to be kept secure, clearly fell far below the standards we expect from our staff.

"As a result, the staff member was dismissed from Greater Manchester Police - we can confirm an appeal against the dismissal has been lodged."

Dale Cregan was on the run from police in the summer of 2012 over the murders of father and son David and Mark Short.

A £50,000 reward was on offer for his arrest when Ms Smith was alleged to have shared confidential information with Mr Booth.

Cregan later surrendered at a police station after killing the police officers in a gun and grenade ambush on 18 September 2012.