Two Derbyshire Call Handlers Charged with Misconduct in Public Office
Summary
Jessica Fitzhugh, 22, of Belper, and Ellie-Mae Doherty, 21, of Ripley, both former Derbyshire Constabulary call handlers, have been charged with misconduct in public office following an IOPC-directed investigation. The pair allegedly accessed police systems without authority in 2023 and 2024, passing confidential information to unauthorized third parties and failing to disclose associations with individuals involved in criminality. Fitzhugh faces an additional charge of taking images of data held on police systems without authority. The Crown Prosecution Service authorized the charges on 23 March 2026; the pair are due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on 24 April 2026.
“Jessica Fitzhugh, 22, of Belper, and Ellie-Mae Doherty, 21, of Ripley, who worked in the force's control room, allegedly accessed police systems in 2023 and 2024 and passed sensitive information to unauthorised third parties.”
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What changed
Two Derbyshire Constabulary call handlers, Jessica Fitzhugh and Ellie-Mae Doherty, have been charged with misconduct in public office following an IOPC-directed investigation into allegations that they accessed police systems without authority and passed confidential information to unauthorized third parties. The charges stem from conduct referrals received in December 2023 and March 2024, with the CPS authorizing charges on 23 March 2026. Both individuals are due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court on 24 April 2026.
Police forces and public-sector employers with access to sensitive systems should note that the IOPC actively directs investigations into staff misconduct involving unauthorized data access and disclosure. Counter-corruption units operating under IOPC direction should ensure robust reporting mechanisms exist for staff associations with individuals involved in criminality.
Archived snapshot
Apr 24, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
Derbyshire Constabulary staff in court accused of leaking confidential police information
Published: 23 Apr 2026 News Two Derbyshire Constabulary call handlers have been charged with misconduct in public office, following an investigation directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), over allegations they passed confidential information to criminals.
Jessica Fitzhugh, 22, of Belper, and Ellie-Mae Doherty, 21, of Ripley, who worked in the force’s control room, allegedly accessed police systems in 2023 and 2024 and passed sensitive information to unauthorised third parties.
It’s alleged they accessed data on police systems without authority, passed confidential information to unauthorised third parties, and failed to inform the force of an association with people involved in criminality.
Fitzhugh is additionally accused of taking images of data held on police systems without authority.
The charges follow conduct referrals received from Derbyshire Constabulary in December 2023 and March 2024 and a subsequent investigation carried out by the force’s Counter Corruption Unit under our direction and control.
At the end of our investigation we sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and on 23 March this year the CPS authorised the charges of misconduct in public office.
The pair are due to appear at Leicester Magistrates’ Court on Friday 24 April.
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- Derbyshire Constabulary
- Corruption and abuse of power
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