UK copper fired for faking keyboard activity • The Register

A UK police sergeant has been dismissed after she was caught using a photo frame to weigh down her laptop keyboard and simulate activity during remote work shifts.

The former officer, identified only as Sergeant X, was fired following an accelerated hearing that found she had committed gross misconduct. The case came to light when her keystroke volume was recorded as three to eight times higher than her colleagues in similar roles.

The investigation by Avon and Somerset Police's Professional Standards Department (PSD) revealed that Sergeant X deployed this trick during "the majority of shifts" she worked in April and May 2025. Her abnormally high keystroke counts had been recorded throughout 2024, prompting a formal investigation that began in June 2025.

According to police statements, Sergeant X "admitted using a corner of a picture frame to weigh down the keys so her laptop would not go into sleep mode, and she could therefore monitor calls on a separate screen during a time in which she suffered challenges in her personal life."

The police did not specify whether Sergeant X was working from home at the time, though this appears likely given the circumstances.

Craig Holden, chair of the misconduct panel and former assistant chief constable, ruled that Sergeant X's actions amounted to gross misconduct. In a rare move, he decided to preserve her anonymity "after considering representations."

Detective Superintendent Larisa Hunt, head of the PSD, expressed disappointment in the officer's behavior, stating: "It is extremely disappointing an officer has behaved in a way which could not only discredit the police force, but also undermine the public confidence in respect of our duties and responsibilities."

Hunt acknowledged the pressures faced by police officers and staff but emphasized that Sergeant X's actions were "unacceptable" and constituted a "deliberate and deceitful" abuse of trust.

This case highlights the growing sophistication of workplace monitoring, particularly for remote workers. According to ExpressVPN research in 2025, 85 percent of British workplaces monitor remote staff activity.

For those considering more sophisticated deception methods, the market offers various tools including mouse jigglers (available in hardware and software forms for as little as a few dollars) and automatic keyboard presser machines that can be purchased or 3D printed.

However, employers' monitoring capabilities vary significantly. Some systems may not detect activity on second monitors, while others, like Avon and Somerset Police's, compare keystroke volume to peers.

Sergeant X's case is not isolated. In 2024, US bank Wells Fargo dismissed at least a dozen staffers from its wealth management and investment management divisions for falsifying keyboard activity.

The incident serves as a reminder that workplace monitoring systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and attempts to deceive them carry significant risks, particularly in law enforcement where public trust is paramount.