A former Avon and Somerset police constable, Lewis Wood, has been charged with three counts of misconduct in public office following allegations of the wilful sharing of a deceased body on social media between December 2018 and August 2020. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has given authorisation for the charges, citing a potential abuse of the public’s trust.
Wood, 42, residing in Bridgwater, will appear before Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, October 24. The charges stem from the alleged distribution of images and videos via WhatsApp to family and friends during his tenure with Avon and Somerset Police.
At the time of the alleged offences, Wood was based in Somerset, but he is no longer employed by Avon and Somerset Police or any other police service. His employment with the force ended in 2021.
Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall assured the public that a thorough investigation had been conducted since the allegations surfaced. The case file was presented to the CPS, resulting in the authorisation of these serious charges.
Hall stated, “The charges relate to the alleged distribution of images and videos on WhatsApp to family and friends by a now-former officer while he served for Avon and Somerset Police. They encompass several incidents or investigations, and one of the charges relates to the alleged sharing of images of a deceased male.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) was involved from the outset, determining that the case was suitable for local investigation by the Counter Corruption Unit.
“We are ensuring all those affected by these allegations are updated, and we’ll be supporting them as we recognise the news is likely to cause an immense amount of hurt and pain,” Hall added.
