PC barred for friendship with child sex offender

A former police officer has been banned from the profession for maintaining a friendship with a convicted sex offender who subjected children to serious abuse.

Philip Reeves not only kept an association with the criminal serving a 30-year sentence, he made derogatory comments about the young victims, misconduct proceedings heard.

Reeves, who served as a PC for Cheshire Police, failed to report the connection in line with policy, provided misleading accounts regarding the nature and extent of the friendship, and later denied he was dishonest.

At the hearing on 10 June, it was ruled Reeves would have been dismissed without notice for gross misconduct had he not resigned two days prior.

The proceedings, held in Reeves' absence, heard he visited the sex offender in prison, had numerous lengthy telephone calls with them, and there were "mutual terms of endearment".

His decision to maintain the friendship was described as "outrageous" by Ch Const Mark Roberts, who told the hearing that dismissal was "necessary in order to protect the public".

Roberts stated Reeves "clearly sympathised with [the offender's] position in custody".

"He also made derogatory comments about the victims of this offending, and I find this inexcusable and abhorrent," he said.

"Of course, these views were shared in a private context, but such comments were wholly unguarded, and I believe reflect his true feelings, that are in complete contrast to the values expected of officers."

Reeves, who was part of the Roads and Crime Unit operating in the east of the county, had previously said "everyone knew of the friendship", inferring that there was no requirement to disclose it to the force.

A report said he accepted this decision was "foolish" but argued that it did not constitute gross misconduct.

Reeves' name will be added to the College of Policing's barred list to prevent his re-entry into the profession.

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