Former Bedfordshire police officer jailed for removing offender's tag to facilitate illicit relationship
Natasha Conneely, who was working in the offender management unit at the time, was found to have begun a relationship with a known burglar in May 2023
A former police officer has been sentenced to 18 months in prison after it was revealed she removed an offender’s electronic tag to have an undetected relationship with him.
Natasha Conneely, who was working in the offender management unit at the time, was found to have begun a relationship with a known burglar in May 2023. As part of her actions to conceal the relationship, Conneely removed the offender’s electronic tag in April 2023, allowing him to visit her home without detection. She also checked the systems to ensure there was no record of his movements.
In June 2023, it was discovered that Conneely and the offender had spent the night together at a hotel in Leeds. An investigation led by the force's Professional Standards Department uncovered messages between the two and further evidence of their relationship.
Following the investigation, Conneely resigned from the police force and was placed on the College of Policing’s Barred List, which bans her from returning to policing. She admitted to the charge of corrupt or improper exercise of police powers and privileges and was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on 21 February 2025.
Chief Constable Trevor Rodenhurst stated, "Natasha Conneely was part of a team responsible for the monitoring and management of offenders who are in our community. The team manages the risk of these individuals through tagging and other means to deter reoffending and assist their rehabilitation into society. Becoming involved in a sexual relationship with such an offender was totally inappropriate and 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."