Ex PC barred from policing for child sex offence

Dep Ch Con Mark Cooper said Geering "purposefully sought to exploit a child"

A former police constable has been found guilty of gross misconduct after being convicted for a child sex offence.

Barry Geering, 44, from London, was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour - namely honesty, integrity and discreditable conduct.

Last month he was sentenced to 28 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child.

At the misconduct hearing on Tuesday, it was determined had he not previously resigned from Wiltshire Police, he would have been dismissed without notice.

He has also been placed on the Sex Offenders' register for seven years, and will be unable to work in policing in the future.

Geering believed he was messaging with a child under 16 when he used Snapchat to engage in sexual communications.

He was arrested in April 2024 as part of an operation by a team at South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), which worked to tackle offences online including child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Geering was suspended from duty and resigned from the force two months later.

Conduct 'incompatible'

Wiltshire Police Dep Ch Con Mark Cooper said: "Our communities rightly expect the highest standards of professional behaviour from all our officers and staff.

"Geering's conduct is simply incompatible with that expected of Wiltshire Police. As soon as we were made aware of this matter, he was immediately suspended.

"We continue to encourage and enable all members of our organisation to report concerns they have regarding a colleague's behaviour and we won't hesitate to investigate without fear or favour."