Oswaldtwistle police officer and wife jailed for misconduct

Cameron Hanson, 33, who worked as a police officer in the Ribble Valley, sent photos, videos, and audio clips to his wife Kirstie Hanson, also 33, who was employed by Lancashire Police in the management of sexual and violent offenders unit.

Also involved was Charlotte Riley, 30, who worked in the investigation management unit and was sent images by Kirstie Hanson and engaged in conversations with her about their contents.

Matthew Conway, prosecuting at Manchester Crown Court, gave details of the 16 counts against the Hansons and Riley.

Cameron Hanson (Image: Lancashire Police)

On January 24, 2021, Cameron Hanson attended an incident involving a man known to have mental health difficulties which he captured on his body-worn camera.

A month later, on February 21, he attended another incident and used his personal mobile phone to send a picture of a dead body covered by a coat at the scene.

Kirstie Hanson responded by saying: “I hope that’s not your coat.”

Later that year on June 10, Cameron Hanson attended an incident where a male was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

He made an audio recording of the victim as he rode in the ambulance with him to Blackpool Hospital.

He also sent Kirstie Hanson text messages saying the man was a “big motherf****r” and that he was “having to stand over him while he’s cuffed and strapped in because he’s so aggressive.”

Kirstie Hanson responded by saying: “What a weirdo.”

Between August 20 and September 3 of the same year, Cameron Hanson sent pictures on his personal mobile phone of images from an incident which had been uploaded to a Lancashire Police internal system.

Riley, referencing the same incident, messaged Kirstie Hanson and said: “Have you got the body cam of that bloke? I well want to see it.”

Another incident in October 2021 saw Cameron Hanson attend a cause for concern which later turned into a murder investigation when he found a dead body while searching a property.

Kirstie Hanson (Image: Lancashire Police)

He sent his wife audio messages within minutes of leaving the scene as well as a video showing the discovery of the body.

Kirstie Hanson asked Riley if she wanted to see the video, to which she replied: “Of course I do.”

Kirstie Hanson said to her: “Don’t show anyone that, I’ll get in s**t.”

In November, she began to disclose footage to other colleagues, which triggered an investigation.

Further counts related to the three defendants sharing sensitive information from internal police systems.

One such offence was on July 4, 2019, when Kirstie Hanson received a message from Riley asking her to check the system and see why she had seen a number of blue lights, citing that she “loves being a nosey cow.”

Cameron Hanson, of Packington Brook, Oswaldtwistle, pleaded guilty to one count of misconduct in a public office and six counts of gross misconduct.

Kirstie Hanson, of the same address, previously pleaded guilty to an offence of knowingly and recklessly obtaining personal data without consent which she sent to family.

She further pleaded guilty to 11 counts of misconduct in a public office, which included:

• Sending photos to others that had been taken at the scene of a sudden death on February 2, 2021
• Sharing copies of body-worn footage with an injured suspect between August 20, 2021, and September 3, 2021
• Sharing body-worn footage of a suspicious death with another between October 28, 2021, and October 31, 2021
• Three counts of disclosing sensitive information to another on October 22, 2020, January 26, 2021, and March 3, 2021
• Three counts of conspiring to secure unauthorised access to computer material on September 7, 2019, July 4, 2019, and July 15, 2019
• And two counts of disclosing sensitive information to a member of her family on September 12, 2019, and April 4, 2020.

Riley, of Carholme Avenue, Burnley, previously pleaded guilty to four counts of gross misconduct in a public office. The charges she admitted are:

• Three counts of conspiring to secure unauthorised access to computer material on September 7, 2019, July 4, 2019, and July 15, 2019
• And disclosing sensitive information to another on May 24, 2021.

None of the defendants had any previous convictions.

David James, mitigating for Cameron Hanson, said the offences were not something he had taken flippantly and he now understands how his behaviour affected the victims and their families.

Mr James described it was Hanson’s long-held aspiration and career goal to work in the police, but now realises he was not suited or equipped to deal with the substantial demands of being an officer.

Patrick Cassidy, for Kirstie Hanson, said she was deeply ashamed of what she had done and accepts she has breached the trust of the people she has hurt.

He said: “It is difficult to accept how an individual could seemingly go about such responsible work with such a degree of recklessness and irresponsibility.”

Patrick Wilkinson, for Riley, said it was “inherently disrespectful” of her to ask for the pictures and videos and that her family were “horrified” at her involvement.

Charlotte Riley pictured after a previous hearing earlier this year (Image: PA)

Judge Nicholas Dean KC, sentencing, said: “This is a shocking and disturbing case.

"It’s shocking and disturbing because of what it might tell us about the culture that appears to have existed, for a period of time at least, within Lancashire Police.

“You disregarded the rules of basic decency. It does not require a course in law and ethics to understand distributing material relating to vulnerable individuals and sometimes dead individuals is wrong.

“You showed no sign in your messaging of any compassion to the people you spoke about, for the victims whose photos you accessed, or took or distributed.

"On the contrary, sometimes you made positive fun of people who were vulnerable and in distress.”

Cameron Hanson was sentenced to 32 months in prison, with Kirstie Hanson sentenced to 18 months.

Charlotte Riley was given a 12-month sentence suspended for two years, with 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

DCI Eugene Swift, from Lancashire Police's Anti-Corruption Unit, said: “The behaviour of these three individuals has no place in Lancashire Constabulary and damages public confidence and trust in the police at both a local and national level.

“When the existence of these videos first came to light we moved quickly to secure the phones and ensure no further offending could take place.

"A pro-active investigation was then launched, which identified further serious offending.

“My thoughts are with the victims of this offending and I hope today’s outcome will give them some sense of justice.

“I want to be clear that the overwhelming majority of police officers and police staff in Lancashire are law-abiding, respectful and go to work to make a difference in the communities in which they serve.

"Where there is any evidence of wrongdoing by an officer or staff member, the ACU will carry out a proactive and robust investigation – as demonstrated in this case – and work with the Crown Prosecution Service to take the appropriate action.”

Deputy Chief Constable Sam Mackenzie added: “This case will understandably leave the public feeling concerned and I know both serving and retired officers and police staff will be left feeling appalled and let down by the behaviour of these three individuals.

“For Lancashire Constabulary, one instance is one too many and detracts from the hard work and commitment to protecting the public that our police officers and staff demonstrate on a daily basis.

“Our anti-corruption unit within our Professional Standards Department is proactively working to identify anyone – no matter role or rank - who chooses to engage in such deplorable behaviour which is completely incompatible with the values and standards of this force.

“Where such conduct is clearly demonstrated those offenders will lose the privilege of working for Lancashire Police and we will work closely with the Crown Prosecution Service to put those individuals before the courts.”