Policeman asked for pictures of 10-year-old, hearing told
ASERVING South Wales Police officer “made inappropriate sexual comments relating to a child and asked for photographs of a 10-year-old child” during disgusting online conversations.
South Wales Police Constable 5867 Ryan Oliver made the “intentional, deliberate, and targeted” comments to someone in a chatroom who was in fact an undercover police officer.
Oliver resigned just a day before a misconduct hearing yesterday where Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan said had he still been a serving officer he would have been immediately dismissed. Oliver will now be placed on the police barred list.
Outlining the circumstances at an accelerated misconduct hearing, Chief Constable Vaughan said: “The former officer whilst off duty was engaged in a private conversation in an online chatroom with another person who, unbeknown to the former officer, was an undercover police officer.
“During that online exchange former PC Oliver made inappropriate sexual comments relating to a child and asked for photographs of a 10-year-old child. PC Oliver resigned with effect from South Wales Police on November 9 – a day before this hearing.
“I am satisfied that the conduct admitted by the former officer was intentional, deliberate and targeted, and planned and thus has a higher degree of culpability.
“There is no hiding-place for people who are determined to prey on vulnerable members of our community and breach the standards of professional behaviour expected of a police officer.
“It is purely by chance that this was an undercover police officer and not a perpetrator of child abuse.”
The location and nature of Oliver’s police work was not disclosed in paperwork related to the outcome which was published by the force following the hearing, nor was it stated whether any criminal proceedings will take place.
Chief Constable Vaughan continued: “I recognise that the conduct involved premeditation, planning, targeting, and taking deliberate steps.
“The former officer also took steps to conceal his actions. The conduct was regular and repeated over a period of time.
“The former officer’s behaviour continued after he should have realised that it was improper.”
Oliver did not attend the hearing, but personal mitigation was put forward by his Police Federation representative, Danny Ahearne, saying the former officer “regrets his actions and is sorry for the embarrassment caused to South Wales Police”.
But Chief Constable Vaughan said: “It is my view that this regret is only that he was caught and his apology should be directed towards all those people who are vulnerable to perpetrators of child abuse. There is no place for this behaviour in wider society, let alone in the police service.”
He added: “I am satisfied that the misconduct is so serious that if former PC Oliver had remained a serving police officer nothing less than immediate dismissal would be a sufficient outcome to maintain public confidence and that the personal mitigation put forward goes nowhere near justifying a lesser sanction.
“The vast majority of the 5,500 officers and staff who work for South Wales Police conduct themselves impeccably and work tirelessly to protect the public.
“Those very few who choose to breach the standards expected of them undermine the public’s trust in policing.
“There is no room for this type of conduct in South Wales Police. I have no hesitation in determining that former PC Oliver would have been dismissed had he not resigned.”
He said Oliver will be referred to the College of Policing and added to the police barred list.