Former Lancashire Police Constable Samarah Kamal has been jailed for nine months and two weeks after she admitted perverting the course of justice. The 27-year-old, from Preston, disposed of her mobile phone in the nine-minute gap between being contacted by an anti-corruption officer and arriving at the officer’s location — an act the court heard was deliberately designed to conceal evidence of potential misconduct.
What Happened
Officers from Lancashire Constabulary’s anti-corruption unit attempted to contact Kamal in connection with a money laundering inquiry. When the anti-corruption team reached out to her by telephone, Kamal had nine minutes to travel to their location. In that window, she disposed of her mobile phone. The act was interpreted by prosecutors as a deliberate attempt to destroy evidence relevant to the investigation. She was charged with perverting the course of justice and pleaded guilty on 12 February 2026.
Sentencing
Kamal was sentenced to nine months and two weeks in custody. The court heard that she fell well short of the standard of conduct the public is entitled to expect from a serving police officer. She had already been dismissed from Lancashire Constabulary following an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing in 2025 and has been indefinitely barred from working in policing. The combination of imprisonment, dismissal and a lifetime ban from policing represents the full force of both criminal and professional consequences available.
Police Corruption and Public Trust
Cases involving police officers who abuse their position or obstruct the course of justice cause significant damage to public trust in law enforcement. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and force anti-corruption units exist specifically to investigate officers who may have breached the standards of professional behaviour required of all constables. Kamal’s conviction demonstrates that police officers face criminal prosecution when they engage in conduct designed to obstruct justice, regardless of the seniority of those involved.
What Is Perverting the Course of Justice?
Perverting the course of justice is a serious common law offence in England and Wales. It is committed when a person does an act or series of acts that tend to and are intended to obstruct or defeat the course of public justice. Typical examples include destroying or concealing evidence, fabricating evidence, and intimidating witnesses. The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, though sentences in practice reflect the gravity of the specific act. Disposal of a mobile phone to avoid scrutiny during an anti-corruption investigation falls squarely within the offence.
Anti-Corruption in Policing
Every police force in England and Wales operates a professional standards department and anti-corruption unit responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct and corruption within their own ranks. Lancashire Constabulary confirmed that Kamal had been investigated as part of a broader money laundering inquiry. The case serves as a reminder that officers are not exempt from criminal investigation or prosecution. Anti-corruption work is considered a critical element of maintaining public confidence in policing, particularly following a series of high-profile misconduct cases in UK forces.
