© Tom Blewitt – Predator Awareness

A Wiltshire Police officer has avoided jail time after admitting to sexually communicating with a schoolgirl via Snapchat—a case that has sparked renewed outrage over leniency in sentencing for those sworn to uphold public trust.

Barry Geering, 44, formerly based in Swindon and now residing in Ealing, London, pleaded guilty at Bristol Magistrates’ Court to engaging in sexual communication with a child under 16. His actions were uncovered in April 2024 by a proactive investigation led by the South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), working in partnership with national teams targeting online child sexual abuse.

Following the investigation and subsequent arrest, Geering was suspended from duty and later resigned from Wiltshire Police. On July 22, an accelerated misconduct hearing chaired by Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith found him guilty of Gross Misconduct, citing violations of honesty, integrity, and discreditable conduct.

The former officer was spared immediate imprisonment, instead receiving a 28-week sentence suspended for 18 months, meaning he will avoid jail unless he reoffends within that period. He was also ordered to complete 30 rehabilitation activity days, aimed at addressing the behaviour behind his offence, and perform 80 hours of unpaid work as part of his punishment. In addition to these measures, Geering will remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for seven years and is subject to a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for the same duration, significantly restricting his future actions and access to vulnerable individuals. His placement on the national barred list ensures he will never again work in policing, even though he resigned before formal dismissal could be enacted.

Had Geering not voluntarily resigned, he would have been formally dismissed from the force without notice.

This case once again raises painful questions: How can individuals entrusted with safeguarding the vulnerable commit such acts—and still avoid prison? The ongoing series of police officer convictions for sexual crimes is not just a sad indictment of the individuals involved but also a systemic issue that calls into question the culture within our police forces. The need for rigorous internal reviews, increased oversight, and cultural change within these institutions has never been clearer.

Public trust in the police is at an all-time low, and for good reason. The public expects the police to uphold the law with integrity, yet time and time again, officers are found guilty of breaching that trust in horrific ways. If law enforcement is to maintain any semblance of legitimacy, urgent action is needed to root out the toxic elements that have pervaded the ranks.

It is essential that all police forces take immediate steps to address the cultural and systemic issues that allow such crimes to occur. Only then can the long road to restoring public confidence in the police begin.

At Predator Awareness, we operate without fear or compromise.

Uniform or no uniform, we will relentlessly uncover the truth and protect the innocent.

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