A former South Wales Police officer, Richard Helling, was recently brought to court following an investigation that exposed his corrupt activities.

The Anti-Corruption Unit’s vigilance led to concerns about Helling. It was revealed that he misused his position as a police constable, reaching out to four victims of crime he encountered in his line of duty using his personal phone. Not only did he attempt to foster a relationship with two of these victims, but he also engaged in sexual relationships with two others.

Upon his arrest, Helling, in a bid to cover his tracks, reached out to one of the victims, urging them to erase their message exchanges. This further led to his arrest for attempting to obstruct a criminal investigation and destroy incriminating evidence.

The enquiry also brought to light Helling’s unauthorised access to police computer systems for personal purposes. He conducted searches without any policing intent and disclosed confidential information to the public.

Helling faced trial at Swansea Crown Court in July. He entered a guilty plea to four counts of corrupt or improper exercise of police powers and privileges as outlined under section 26 of the Criminal Justice and Courts Act 2015. Furthermore, he pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice and two counts of computer misuse as described in sections 1 and 3 of the Computer Misuse Act 1990. The court handed him a 15-month prison sentence.

Shortly after his conviction, Helling, having joined the force in 2018, tendered his resignation just days ahead of an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing on 3rd August, presided over by Chief Constable Jeremy Vaughan.

The hearing concluded that Helling’s actions amounted to gross misconduct. Had he still been in service, an immediate dismissal would have been the verdict.

Chief Constable Vaughan remarked at the hearing, “The trust vested in police officers should be absolute. It’s deeply regrettable that former PC Helling abused this trust. While most of our 5,500 officers and staff of South Wales Police are dedicated and uphold the highest standards, there is absolutely no place for those who choose to forsake their duties.”

In 2019, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary released a report titled “Shining a Light on Betrayal: Abuse of Position for a Sexual Purpose”. One key recommendation was that police forces implement monitoring software to detect system misuse effectively. Additionally, forces were advised to frequently review data about their staff’s usage of force systems and communication devices.

Last year’s inspection identified South Wales Police as one of two forces recognised for its outstanding approach to handling corruption and vetting officers and staff. The assessment reviewed the force’s vetting processes, information protection measures, and corruption management.

Chief Superintendent Mark Lenihan, Head of Professional Standards, emphasised the significance of the Anti-Corruption Unit’s diligent monitoring and investigative methods. He stated, “Without these tools and techniques, this misconduct would have gone unnoticed, leaving a corrupt officer in our midst.”

Lenihan concluded by reiterating that the majority of police officers and staff are committed public servants who would never engage in such reprehensible actions.