Data Misuse
Ok so if a Joe Public was to get caught accessing a computer illegaly it would prabalby be considered as theft or misuse and he would have the book thrown at him.
Is there a reason therefore that Policeman, who by definition should be honest and upstanding citizens, are on the majority , simply slapped on the back of the wrist... On top of that, they are accessing system which probably hold an awful lot of personal details at the gritty level, so we are not talking minor problems here.
Questions, questions, questions