A post office worker has been sentenced to 100 hours community service and ordered to pay £500 in costs yesterday for trying to get a police officer to carry out an unauthorised police check on her future son-in-law.

In February 2011 a Metropolitan Police constable contacted the Directorate of Professional Standards [DPS] to report that Kamini Patel had asked him to carry out an unauthorised police check to see if her future son-in-law had any criminal convictions.

"Police systems contain sensitive personal information that must be kept confidential. The officer did exactly the right thing and reported it straight away so that we were able to take action. We will take action against anyone who asks a police officer to conduct unauthorised police checks," MPS Directorate of Professional Standard DI, Claire Moxon, said in a statement.

However,an investigation was launched by the Directorate of Professional Standards resulting in Patel's arrest on 4 March.

Patel, 54, of Village Way, Beckenham, appeared before Southwark Crown Court yesterday for sentencing. She had previously pleaded guilty, on Wednesday Aug. 31, 2011, to Section 45 of the Serious Crime Act 2007.