A police sergeant has lost his job after being convicted of disclosing confidential information to his father, a former Deputy Chief Constable.

Sergeant Cretney had been suspended since April 2024 and previously had an exemplary record with the Manx force.

Police have confirmed that he has been dismissed without notice following a special case misconduct hearing last week which concluded that he had breached standards of professional behaviour.

Superintendent Dave Dobbie, of the Professional Standards Department, said: ‘Police officers occupy a position of trust and the public is entitled to expect the highest standards of conduct from them.

‘This case demonstrates that where an officer fails to meet those standards, the Constabulary will take appropriate action. Allegations of misconduct will be dealt with promptly, fairly and transparently, with due process followed throughout.

‘Conduct that undermines the standards of our organisation and the confidence placed in us by the public will not be tolerated.’

Mr Cretney had been due to face a summary trial before High Bailiff James Brooks but changed his plea to guilty at the 11th hour.

Six other charges of disclosing personal data were dismissed.

The court heard that on April 19, 2024, the officer’s phone had been seized by police and examined.

A number of messages were discovered that had been exchanged between the defendant and his father, former Deputy Chief Constable Alan Cretney.

The information shared concerned an incident alleged to have occurred in a car park in which a woman was said to have impersonated a police officer.

High Bailiff James Brooks likened the defendant’s actions to a child ‘giddy with gossip’ wanting to share information with his father.

He fined him £800 and ordered him to pay £600 costs.