A Bedfordshire police officer has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after she removed a monitored offender’s tag to pursue a sexual relationship with him, in what the court described as a serious breach of public trust.
Natasha Conneely, 31, of Kempston, pleaded guilty to corruption or other improper exercise of police powers and privileges at St Albans Crown Court. The court heard how Conneely, who worked for Bedfordshire Police’s offender management unit, abused her position to facilitate a secret relationship with a known burglar under her supervision.
The misconduct came to light in May 2023 when colleagues discovered she had removed the offender’s electronic monitoring tag, allowing him to visit her home undetected. In a further attempt to conceal the affair, Conneely checked the system afterward to ensure their movements hadn’t been flagged. Investigations revealed that the pair had also spent a night together in a Leeds hotel in June 2023.
As part of the offender management unit, Conneely’s role was to monitor and manage offenders in the community, using tagging systems to deter reoffending and ensure public safety. Her actions, prosecutors argued, directly undermined these safeguards.
“A Serious Breach of Public Trust”
During sentencing, Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst condemned Conneely’s actions, saying, “Becoming involved in a sexual relationship with such an offender was totally inappropriate. 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.”
He added, “The evidence of their communication demonstrates she entered this relationship and course of conduct of her own free will. Her conduct falls far below the standards the public rightly expect from their police officers.
Career in Tatters
Following her arrest and subsequent charge, Conneely resigned from Bedfordshire Police. A police misconduct hearing in November 2023 found her guilty of “gross misconduct for discreditable conduct and dishonesty and integrity.” Though she had already resigned, the panel concluded that she would have been dismissed had she remained on the force.
Conneely has been added to the College of Policing’s barred list, preventing her from returning to law enforcement in the future.
Community Reaction
The case has sparked public outrage, with many questioning the safeguards in place to prevent such breaches. Advocacy groups argue that the incident highlights the need for stricter oversight of officers working in offender management roles.
Bedfordshire Police has since reviewed its internal protocols and issued a statement reassuring the public that measures are being taken to prevent similar incidents.
This was an isolated case, but it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of integrity in policing,” the force said in a statement. “We remain committed to ensuring that the highest professional standards are upheld.”
The convicted offender involved in the relationship is now under review, with Bedfordshire Police confirming that further measures are being considered to assess his compliance with ongoing supervision.
As Conneely begins her prison sentence, the case stands as a warning about the potential consequences of abusing positions of trust within law enforcement.
