A Queensland police officer has been charged with computer hacking offences for allegedly using the state’s policing systems without appropriate clearance.

Queensland Police said in a statement yesterday that the senior constable from its Southern Region operation had been stood down from active duty over the charges.

The 33-year-old has been charged with “Computer Hacking and Misuse” after allegedly accessing the Queensland Police Service computer systems and information inappropriately.

Computer Hacking and Misuse carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment in the state.

He will now face the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 11, 2019.

“In keeping with our commitment to high standards of behaviour, transparency and accountability, we have undertaken to inform the public when an officer faces serious allegations of misconduct,” Queensland Police said.

“This does not mean the allegations against the officer have been substantiated.”

The officer is the state’s fourth police officer to face charges of computer hacking since the start of last month.

The first, a 36-year-old undercover cop from the Brisbane region, was stood down over allegations of hacking in early December following an internal investigation.

This was followed by a 52-year-old senior constable from Road Policing Command, who was issued with a notice to appear for nine counts of computer hacking after being investigated for conducting unauthorised searches of QPS information systems.

A 37-year-old constable from the Central Region was then suspended from duty on December 21 after being served a notice to appear for 31 charges of computer hacking.