Following an investigation by Thames Valley Police, a former police officer for the Force pleaded guilty to a criminal offence yesterday (19/8).
Former PC, Craig Finch, aged 38, who had been based at St Aldates’ police station, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of extreme pornography at a hearing at High Wycombe Magistrate’s Court.
Finch resigned from the Force on Wednesday (17/8), and a special case misconduct hearing chaired by the Chief Constable John Campbell held on Thursday (18/8) determined that Finch’s actions amounted to gross misconduct and had he not already have resigned he would have been dismissed.
The hearing was held in private in order that the legal proceedings were not prejudiced.
Finch will be placed on the College of Policing’s barred list.
An investigation has been ongoing since November 2021, but Finch was suspended from duty while the investigation has been ongoing.
Thames Valley Police’s Deputy Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: “Whenever an officer is accused of breaking the law we will investigate thoroughly and where evidence is found it will be presented it to the Crown Prosecution Service.
“It is entirely unacceptable to myself, to the Force, as well as to the public for someone who is supposed to uphold the law and protect others, to have committed such an offence and remain an officer.
“I hope that this conviction and the formal misconduct processes that have taken place demonstrate clearly that we as a police Force, will not tolerate activity that brings the reputation of the service into disrepute.”
Finch will next appear at High Wycombe Magistrate’s Court on 19th September 2022.
