A Gatwick border officer shared intelligence documents with jailed criminals. 

Jade Hearn, 26, of Leverson Street in Streatham, was arrested by officers from the NCA’s Anti-Corruption Unit at her office at Gatwick Airport. 

She was part of an anti-smuggling team but had been sending pictures of herself in Border Force uniform to a prisoner serving a sentence in HMP Woodhill in Buckinghamshire. 

An investigation revealed she had been communicating with at least four men who were using phones inside prison. 

In some cases she’d sent sensitive documents such as details of criminal records and individuals who were in custody after being arrested for drug smuggling. 

She was also moving money through her bank account on behalf of those involved in drug trafficking. 

In one case some advised them to break payments up into smaller amounts to avoid raising suspicion, saying “don’t put it all in one go”. 

Times Series: She was arrested in January 2021 and was charged with misconduct in public office, encouraging or assisting the use of an illegal prison phone and possessing and supplying a class B drug. 

Hearn pleaded guilty to all the offences and on Friday (January 19) she was sentenced to 20 months in prison, suspended for two years. 

Dave Rock, Operations Manager at the NCA’s Anti-Corruption Unit said: “Jade Hearn abused her position as a Border Force officer and knowingly shared sensitive information with people serving prison terms for drug dealing. 
 
“She communicated with individuals behind bars knowing that they were holding those phones illegally, and assisted them in their criminality by arranging money transfers. The NCA worked closely with the Prison Service to end their conspiracy. 
 
“We do not believe that any of the information she passed on caused major impact to ongoing investigations or operations, but there is no doubt that the potential to do so was there had we not stopped her. Her corrupt activity was the definition of misconduct in public office. 
 
“We know organised crime groups target insiders at ports and airports for their knowledge and access, which is why stamping out corruption across all law enforcement is such a priority for the NCA and our partners such as Border Force.”