In a recent inspection commissioned by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, it has been revealed that the police force missed at least five opportunities to take stricter action against former PC Luke Horner. Horner, who later committed a child sexual offence, had reportedly “repeatedly asked a 15-year-old girl to send naked pictures of herself.”

The inspection conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found that the force could not have reasonably anticipated Horner’s later criminal actions. However, it identified several instances where opportunities were lost to prevent the misconduct.

Horner resigned as an officer on July 26 and, while off duty, committed the offence in Rushden, Northamptonshire. The court heard that he also recorded the crime on the victim’s phone, leading to his recent sentencing of six years and four months in jail.

The report suggests that Thames Valley Police should have conducted further inquiries during the initial vetting stage, considering a potential sexual assault allegation in 2016 and Horner’s early departure from the British Army. Additionally, the force failed to identify questions about his honesty and integrity during his police service, indicating that “Horner was not suited to being a police officer.”

One concerning aspect revealed in the report is that the force’s counter-corruption unit received anonymous intelligence from Crimestoppers during Horner’s service. The tip suggested that he had been chatting online with a 15-year-old girl, raising questions about his conduct.

While HMICFRS concluded that Thames Valley Police couldn’t have predicted the specific sexual offences, it highlights the crucial need for the force to improve its vetting processes and address red flags in the behavior of its officers.