Serco Employee Charged with Misconduct Over Sharing Asylum Seeker Accommodation Addresses

An employee of a company that provides accommodation for asylum seekers has been charged with misconduct in public office over sharing the properties' addresses. Houses in St John's Way, Bracken Road, Clover Way, Elm Road and Chester Way in Thetford, Norfolk, were targeted by crowds over three nights earlier this month. James Jobson, 62, from Highlow Road, Costessey, near Norwich, works at Serco and appeared at Ipswich Magistrates' Court on Monday. He was remanded in custody and will appear at Norwich Crown Court on 14 September. The charge stated that between 3 and 14 August, while acting as a public officer employed by Serco, Jobson "wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification" committed misconduct in a way which "amounted to an abuse of the public's trust in the office". Norfolk Police said the charge was in connection to the "release of information relating to a number of addresses in Thetford, which were later targeted during several nights of violent disorder in the town". A spokesperson for Serco said: "This matter is currently being handled by the police, and we are cooperating fully. As this relates to an ongoing legal process, it would be inappropriate to comment further."