One of the UK’s few strictly Orthodox police officers will face trial next year, after indicating a not guilty plea to a charge of improper use of the Police National Computer (PNC).

PC Ephraim Chalk, an officer in Barnet, North West London, is charged with conducting a PNC check of a vehicle registration number between March 21 and 22 this year, knowing that it was not for a police purpose.

Robert Morris, defending him, indicated a not guilty plea during a hearing at Southwark Crown Court.

PC Chalk, of Sneath Avenue in Golders Green, will appear at the court on February 25, 2019 for a trial that is set to last no more than three days.

The police officer, 31, has been placed on restricted duty.

As of May 2017, the Home Office stated that the PNC, which contains several databases, included 12.2 million personal records, 58.5 million driver records, and 62.6 million vehicle records.