Multiple police officers have been dismissed for using 'key-jamming' techniques to appear active while working from home, with some using the time to visit the gym or play golf. The practice, which involves placing objects on keyboards or manipulating devices to simulate keystrokes, has been uncovered by anti-corruption units in several forces.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) identified 28 officers, staff and contractors involved in misconduct after detecting abnormal keystroke behaviour on force-issued devices. In December 2024, GMP sacked and barred four officers, while two others resigned before disciplinary action could be taken. Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods praised the anti-corruption unit for “rooting out poor performance, dishonesty and conduct that is just not conducive with working for GMP”.
Other forces have taken similar action. Avon and Somerset Police dismissed a female officer whose keystroke rate was three to eight times higher than colleagues in comparable roles. Former Durham Constabulary detective Niall Thubron pressed the 'i' key more than 16,000 times in under 90 minutes, logging 45 hours of fake activity out of 85 hours worked. In Kent, an officer used key-jamming for 60 of 136 logged hours in order to attend the gym and a golf course during shifts.
Avon and Somerset's PC Liam Reakes was found to have weighed down the 'z' key for a total of 103 hours between June and September 2024, sometimes for over four hours at a time. The BBC has reported that UK police forces have sacked around 50 'keyboard jammers' over the past three years.
