Former cop accused of posting fake sex ads

Harris, who resigned as a constable from Counties Manukau Police in April last year, also faces a charge of cultivating cannabis. Photo / File

A former policeman has been charged with harassing a woman, after he allegedly posted fake sexually explicit advertisements of her online.

The ex-cop also faces a charge of illegally accessing the woman's personal details on the highly secure police database.

Jason Karl Harris, 43, allegedly posted information about the woman in February on two websites used by people to find sexual partners, causing her to fear for her safety.

He appeared in the Auckland District Court last week where he was charged with criminal harassment and illegally accessing the woman's details on the police database.

Both charges carry penalties of up to two years in prison.

When approached by the Herald on Sunday at his home this week, Harris did not want to comment on the charges or reveal how he knew the alleged victim.

Jason Harris was arrested on June 15.

"I'm not going to talk to you at the present time without my lawyer," he said.

Harris was arrested on June 15 after an investigation was launched this year after complaints of harassment.

The charges allege Harris posted adverts to the websites and also accessed the New Zealand Police National Intelligence Application (NIA) without authority.

Harris, who resigned as a constable from Counties Manukau Police in April last year, also faces a charge of cultivating cannabis.

The woman did not want to comment on the alleged cyberbullying when she spoke to the Herald on Sunday this week.

Her identity is protected by the courts.

"The case hasn't gone through the court yet, so I'll wait and see what happens," she said.

The woman said she had "absolutely no idea" about allegations Harris had used the secure police database to look up her personal details.

Harris was a police officer stationed at Pukekohe from early 2007 until he resigned in April last year.

It is alleged he accessed the police database a month before his resignation.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Richard Chambers said there were strict controls on access to information held in the NIA, which holds information on a person's personal details and if they have criminal history.

"There is regular monitoring of NIA access including an audit carried out each month on approximately 75 randomly selected employees using the NIA database for that month," he said.

"These employees are required to justify their NIA access for that month."

Chambers added that there were also regular audits of other police databases and email traffic.

In the new police code of conduct released earlier this year, unauthorised access, or disclosure of any information relating to police business is classified as serious misconduct.

Unauthorised access to NIA has led to serious misconduct or criminal charges in the past.

Last year, former Counties Manukau crime field manager Detective Inspector Mark Gutry faced disciplinary action after he looked up the NIA up to 20 times to access the details of a woman he was sleeping with.

He resigned from the police and did not face criminal charges.

The new Harmful Digital Communications Bill is expected to pass into law this week.

Under the new law, it will be an offence to send emails, texts and post anything to social media as a means to intimidate others, or to spread damaging or degrading rumours.

Publishing invasive and distressing photographs will also be an offence.

It carries a maximum penalty of up to two years or a $50,000 fine - the same penalty if found guilty of criminal harassment.

Harris has not pleaded to the charges, and is expected to reappear in court in July.