Thames Valley Police was alerted to a serving officer’s inappropriate behaviour involving a 15-year-old girl, which went unaddressed, leading to him committing a child sex offence, according to a critical inspection report. Former PC Luke Horner, aged 24, pleaded guilty to penetrative sexual activity with a 13-year-old girl earlier this year and was subsequently sentenced to six years and four months in prison.
A commissioned inspection conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that Thames Valley Police had several opportunities to take stricter action against Horner. This action could have included refusing initial vetting clearance or dismissing him from service.
The report highlighted several incidents, including a potential sexual assault allegation in 2016, Horner’s early departure from the British Army, and the mishandling of evidence involving cannabis left in his work tray. Additionally, Horner pointed a Taser at a colleague while he was still under a live written warning for evidence mishandling.
During his police service, the force’s counter-corruption unit received anonymous intelligence from Crimestoppers suggesting that Horner had been engaging in online conversations with a 15-year-old girl. These conversations allegedly included repeated requests for the girl to send naked pictures of herself.
The Inspectorate found that the counter-corruption unit made only one attempt to contact the informant who provided this information to Crimestoppers, failing to make “repeated and exhaustive attempts” within the available 14-day window.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, Roy Wilsher, emphasized the importance of robust vetting processes in identifying misconduct and unsuitable officers. He acknowledged that while Thames Valley Police could not have predicted Horner’s abhorrent crime, there were at least five missed opportunities to take stricter action.
Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, expressed his satisfaction that Horner was serving a prison sentence. He stressed the importance of having effective processes in place to root out corruption and misconduct within the police force. Barber thanked HMICFRS for conducting the inspection and providing valuable recommendations for improvement.
The report’s findings indicate that Thames Valley Police will need to address these concerns and recommendations in the vetting and performance management of its officers and staff. HMICFRS plans to revisit the force as part of its ongoing inspection program in 2024 to assess progress in these areas.
A commissioned inspection conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that Thames Valley Police had several opportunities to take stricter action against Horner. This action could have included refusing initial vetting clearance or dismissing him from service.
The report highlighted several incidents, including a potential sexual assault allegation in 2016, Horner’s early departure from the British Army, and the mishandling of evidence involving cannabis left in his work tray. Additionally, Horner pointed a Taser at a colleague while he was still under a live written warning for evidence mishandling.
During his police service, the force’s counter-corruption unit received anonymous intelligence from Crimestoppers suggesting that Horner had been engaging in online conversations with a 15-year-old girl. These conversations allegedly included repeated requests for the girl to send naked pictures of herself.
The Inspectorate found that the counter-corruption unit made only one attempt to contact the informant who provided this information to Crimestoppers, failing to make “repeated and exhaustive attempts” within the available 14-day window.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary, Roy Wilsher, emphasized the importance of robust vetting processes in identifying misconduct and unsuitable officers. He acknowledged that while Thames Valley Police could not have predicted Horner’s abhorrent crime, there were at least five missed opportunities to take stricter action.
Matthew Barber, Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, expressed his satisfaction that Horner was serving a prison sentence. He stressed the importance of having effective processes in place to root out corruption and misconduct within the police force. Barber thanked HMICFRS for conducting the inspection and providing valuable recommendations for improvement.
The report’s findings indicate that Thames Valley Police will need to address these concerns and recommendations in the vetting and performance management of its officers and staff. HMICFRS plans to revisit the force as part of its ongoing inspection program in 2024 to assess progress in these areas.
