Workshy detective banned from policing for life after key jamming computer to avoid work

A workshy detective has been banned from policing after jamming down a button on his keyboard to trick bosses into thing he was busy solving crime. Work-from-home detective Niall Thubron resorted to "key jamming" to make it look as though he was hard at work bringing down organised crime gangs. But in fact Detective Constable Thubron was doing nothing apart from conning his bosses into thinking his work laptop was in use - as he skipped half his working hours.

Between December 3rd last year and January 13th this year a single character on his keyboard was jammed down for 45 hours of the 85 hours he was supposed to be working in that time. A disciplinary hearing was told that between 10.28am and 11.56am on a sample day, the H key on the Durham officer's computer was struck 30 times in a row, followed by the I key which was struck 16,000 times in a row.

Durham's Chief Constable Rachel Bacon said she was "appalled" by Thubron's conduct and ruled that he would have been dismissed for gross misconduct had he not resigned from the force when his shirking was uncovered.

Thubron was also placed on the College of Policing barred list, which means he can never rejoin any force.

Chief Constable Bacon said: "This was a deliberate act and more importantly a deliberate breach of standards. He knew avoiding work was wrong and key jamming was also wrong, this was a case of deliberate dishonesty."

She said Thubron's actions adversely affected his "hard working colleagues" and added: "The public expects police officers to work diligently on their behalf and officers often work over their hours to pursue criminals.

"Over 12 days this officer used key jamming for 45 hours out of the 85 hours he was logged in, he was frequently away for half his working day.

"The public would rightly be appalled by this conduct, which could have a corrosive effect on the reputation of the force."

She said the case should serve as a warning to other police officers working from home tempted to skive.

Chief Constable Bacon said: "There are police officers who are able to work from home. To those very few who might look to take advantage of that, this case will be a stark warning that they will be caught and the consequences will be career ending."

Detective Chief Inspector Yvonne Dutson, head of Durham Constabulary's professional standards department, said: "On November 5th 2024 the officer joined the North East Regional Organised Crime Unit (NEROCU) as a high risk investigations officer.

"He worked three days a week in the office and was permitted to work from home for two days of the week.

"During this time he was expected to attend to his roles and responsibilities as applicable to his position whilst working in the office.

"These were complex investigations of organised crime operations, assisting with tasks selected by his supervision and supporting other detectives."

However DC Thubron, 33, was found to have been cheating the system by "key-jamming" his force laptop, which was connected to the Durham Constabulary network.

He was caught out when an officer, DC Beth Holmes of the counter corruption unit, carried out an audit on the police network.

She carried out an initial search on the practice of key jamming and discovered that DC Thubron's laptop had been typing the same character for long periods of time.

Over 12 days between December 3 2024 and January 13th this year he was found to be key jamming on 38 occasions - totalling just over 45 hours of wasted police time.

When the officer was confronted about his actions in May he resigned from the force.

He made no representations to the disciplinary hearing in person or through the Police Federation and he did not attend the disciplinary hearing.

DCI Dutson added: "The Appropriate Authority (Durham Constabulary) says his conduct amounts to gross misconduct.

"Honesty and integrity is at the heart of policing and public trust requires officers to do the right thing when working from home.

"The practice of key jamming in this case ensured that valuable police work was not completed."

Thubron joined Durham police nine years ago, firstly as a PCSO for two years before moving to uniform. He passed his detective training and joined the crack NEROCU team in November 2024.

But almost as soon as he had the opportunity to skive he began shirking his responsibilities.

His bosses are mystified as to what he was doing while he was supposed to be tracking down organised crime gangs and Thubron has declined to give any explanation.

In a statement to the hearing Detective Sergeant Stephen Gillibrand, Thurbron's direct superior, said: "On a professional level I feel let down and embarrassed by DC Thubron.

"We placed trust in him to undertake investigations whilst being provided the comfort of working from home. He has clearly employed tactics to deceive me and his colleagues in NEROCU."