Toronto police accused of accessing private databases unlawfully

The Toronto Police Service's emblem is photographed during a press conference at TPS headquarters, in Toronto Tuesday, May 17, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov

A Toronto police officer has been charged after allegedly accessing private police databases unlawfully last year.

In a news release on Tuesday, the Toronto Police Service (TPS) said it happened on multiple occasions between June and December.

As a result, 33-year-old Const. Rifat Hassan was arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a computer.

TPS said his arrest was not connected to Project South, which is a separate investigation that involved similar allegations of accessing confidential information.

TPS added that it was seeking to suspend Hassan without pay.

Hassan has been with TPS for 10 months and is assigned to the 53 Division in midtown Toronto.