A DETECTIVE who used sensitive police data for “a personal matter” has been sacked.

After a misconduct hearing today, the 26-year-old, who is based at force headquarters in Chelmsford, was dismissed.

The detective constable accessed the information in June 2013 and was fired for gross misconduct.

The misconduct panel, which included an independent member, was chaired by the force's director of support services Mark Gilmartin.

He said: "We believe that the officer’s unlawful access of police information was a breach of the professional responsibilities of every police officer.

“We went on to conclude that maintaining trust and confidence in Essex Police and in individual officers is of paramount importance and, as such, dismissed him without notice.”

No further details about the information he accessed have been released.