A former Bedfordshire Police officer has been jailed after removing a monitored offender’s electronic tag to hide their relationship from authorities.
Natasha Conneely, who was working in the force’s offender management unit, was found to have started a relationship with a known burglar in 2023.
An internal investigation revealed she had removed his tag in April, allowing him to visit her home undetected. She later checked police systems to ensure their whereabouts had not been recorded.
It was also discovered that in June 2023, the pair had spent the night together in a hotel in Leeds.
Conneely was charged under Section 26 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015 for the corrupt or improper exercise of police powers and privileges. She later resigned from the force.
An Accelerated Case Hearing in November 2023 found her actions amounted to gross misconduct, breaching standards of honesty, integrity, and discreditable conduct. She was placed on the College of Policing’s Barred List, preventing her from returning to policing.
After admitting the charge, Conneely was sentenced to 18 months in prison at St Albans Crown Court on 21 February.
“No place in policing”
Following the sentencing, Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst said: “Natasha Conneely was part of a team responsible for the monitoring and management of offenders who are in our community.
“The team manages the risk of these individuals through tagging and other means to deter reoffending and assist their rehabilitation into society.
“Becoming involved in a sexual relationship with such an offender was totally inappropriate, and her actions to allow them to spend time together undetected were entirely selfish and had real potential to leave the offender free to further offend with no safeguards in place.
“The evidence of their communication, in my view, demonstrates she entered this relationship and course of conduct of her own free will, and her conduct falls far below the standard the public rightly expect.
“Her actions risked undermining the entire offender management system, and she let down multiple colleagues and departments who work together to keep our communities safe.
“There is simply no place in policing for anyone who behaves in such a way.”
