Dismissed police staff member sentenced
Keith Sayers committed offences between 2021 and 2024
A former Hertfordshire Constabulary member of staff has been sentenced to 12 months imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, after committing misconduct in public office.
Keith Sayers, 43, who was a Police Community Support Officer in the Watford and Hertsmere areas, between 2016 and 2024, appeared at St Albans Crown Court for sentencing, having previously pleaded guilty to four offences.
Sayers admitted misconduct in public office between, 1 September 2021 and 30 December 2023 and three counts of unauthorised access to police systems on 12 June 2023, 5 January 2024 and between 9 January 2024 and 28 January 2024.
Sayers was suspended after his arrest in January 2024, on suspicion of an inappropriate relationship and communication with a child he met through his work, and the constabulary referred the case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), for investigation.
An allegation of sexual communication with a child was considered as part of the misconduct offence, with a separate charge not progressed.
He was dismissed, without notice, for gross misconduct, in December 2025.
A 10-year sexual risk order was granted at Stevenage Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 5 May 2026.
He has also been ordered to carry out 180 hours unpaid work.
“Sayers betrayed the trust that the public place in the police, he abused his position in a despicable way, letting down the community and the whole of policing,” said Hertfordshire’s Deputy Chief Constable Andy Mariner.
“He has no place in policing. I know this case will have caused real concern and upset amongst our local communities and I want to reassure everyone that we take crimes of this nature extremely seriously.”