Police slam Natalie Mottram after corrupt analyst jailed by courts

Criminals were made aware of a huge breakthrough by police when they cracked the encrypted messaging system EncroChat.

Natalie Mottram, of Chapelford, tipped off a criminal friend who then informed his criminal associates – risking monumental damage to ongoing investigations at the time.

She was jailed this afternoon at Liverpool Crown Court for misconduct in public office, perverting the course of justice and securing unauthorised access to computer material

John McKeon, head of the NCA’s anti-corruption unit, said: “Operation Venetic is a once in a generation investigation which has made a huge contribution to public protection.

“More than 1,240 offenders have been convicted, more than 173 firearms recovered, and more than nine tonnes of heroin and cocaine seized. More than 200 threats to life were averted.

“But Mottram’s actions had the potential to derail all that.

“There is no place for corrupt officers in UK law enforcement and it was vital that this investigation uncovered her betrayal.”

On her conviction, he previously commented: “Natalie Mottram betrayed her job, her colleagues and the public she was paid to protect.

“Her corrupt actions had the potential to hugely damage the overarching investigation by alerting offenders of the need to abandon EncroChat and cover their tracks.

“But Mottram clearly did not care. Her actions were disgraceful.

ACC Jo Edwards, head of the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, added: “The overwhelming majority of people who work in policing do so to protect the public from harm, and they devote years of service to that end.

“Sadly, the actions of Natalie Mottram undermine the good work that is being done daily by her colleagues here at the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit.

“We expect our officers and staff to uphold the highest standards of professional behaviour, to maintain the trust and confidence of the communities we serve.

“Natalie’s actions fell far below the standards and values we expect. She failed in her public duty, I hope her sentence leads her to reflect on her wrong-doing and the impact this has had on victims of organised crime, herself, and her family.

“I’d like to reassure the public that the overwhelming majority of our staff at the NWROCU serve our communities with the utmost integrity and honesty.”

Superintendent Simon Parsonage, Head of Professional Standards at Cheshire Constabulary, said: “I welcome the sentence handed to Mottram and I hope that her conviction provides reassurance to our communities.

“Mottram abused her position by accessing highly sensitive data which she then shared with people outside the organisation.

“As a result of the partnership work between Cheshire Constabulary, the NCA, ROCU and the IOPC she has now been held accountable for her actions.

“As this case demonstrates nobody is above the law, and I want to reassure the public that we are committed to doing all we can to root out any officers or staff who fail to meet the high standards that the people of Cheshire expect and deserve.”

Rosemary Ainslie, head of the Crown Prosecution Service Special Crime Division, said: “Mottram’s corrupt actions were a gross breach of trust and had the potential to be hugely damaging to a very important and large-scale investigation into EncroChat and organised crime.

“Operation Venetic is one of the most significant investigations in history of targeting serious and organised criminals - and has seen remarkable success.

“As part of her role, Mottram had access to sensitive intelligence, and she abused her position by disclosing key information about Operation Venetic to Kay.

“It is clear she displayed a flagrant disregard to policies around handling sensitive information and fell well below the standard expected of a police employee.

“The CPS will always work hard to prosecute this kind of corruption so that the public can have full confidence in the criminal justice system.”