Former Thames Valley Police officer sentenced for multiple offences - Newbury

A former Thames Valley Police officer has been sentenced for multiple offences today (29/4).

Oliver Perry-Smith, aged 38, who was a PC based at Newbury police station, was sentenced to three years and six months in prison at Reading Crown Court.

Perry-Smith pleaded guilty to three counts of misconduct in public office and two counts of computer misuse at the same court on 30 March.

Perry-Smith engaged or attempted to engage in sexual relationships with female members of the public while on duty over more than five years from September 2014.

He also used the police national computer system to find personal information about a woman, as well as data about another person, in 2019.

Thames Valley Police made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct in 2019 after being made aware of Perry-Smith’s offences.

He resigned from Thames Valley Police on 8 February this year.

A special case misconduct hearing was chaired by Chief Constable John Campbell via video link on 9 February.

The Chief Constable determined that former PC Perry-Smith’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and that he would have been dismissed from the force had he not already resigned.

He has also been placed on the College of Policing’s barred list.

The hearing was held in private in order that the legal proceedings were not prejudiced.

Deputy Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: “Former PC Oliver Perry-Smith abused his position of power as a police officer and has rightly been punished for his disgraceful, criminal actions.

“We took robust action by referring his case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as well as carrying out our own misconduct procedures.

“In these misconduct procedures, Chief Constable John Campbell determined that if PC Perry-Smith had not resigned, he would have been dismissed from our force.

“The public has a right to expect that police officers always act with the utmost integrity and professionalism, and that they can be trusted to use personal information on police systems appropriately and respectfully.

“Officers who fail to do this are committing a criminal offence, not to mention falling far below the standards their colleagues and the public expect of them.

“I am pleased that Perry-Smith has faced justice for his actions and is no longer part of Thames Valley Police.”

JD