Ex PC barred from policing for child sex offence

 A former police constable has been found guilty of gross misconduct after being convicted for a child sex offence.

Barry Geering, 44, from London, was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour - namely honesty, integrity and discreditable conduct.

Last month he was sentenced to 28 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 18 months, after pleading guilty to attempted sexual communication with a child.

At the misconduct hearing on Tuesday, it was determined had he not previously resigned from Wiltshire Police, he would have been dismissed without notice.

He has also been placed on the Sex Offenders' register for seven years, and will be unable to work in policing in the future.

Geering believed he was messaging with a child under 16 when he used Snapchat to engage in sexual communications.

He was arrested in April 2024 as part of an operation by a team at South West Regional Organised Crime Unit (SWROCU), which worked to tackle offences online including child sexual abuse and exploitation.

Geering was suspended from duty and resigned from the force two months later.

Conduct 'incompatible'

Wiltshire Police Dep Ch Con Mark Cooper said: "Our communities rightly expect the highest standards of professional behaviour from all our officers and staff.

"Geering's conduct is simply incompatible with that expected of Wiltshire Police. As soon as we were made aware of this matter, he was immediately suspended.

"We continue to encourage and enable all members of our organisation to report concerns they have regarding a colleague's behaviour and we won't hesitate to investigate without fear or favour."

My View: No More Excuses, No More Light Sentences

Once again, we see it. Another sick individual walks away with nothing but a slap on the wrist — not because they’re innocent, not because they’ve shown true remorse, and certainly not because justice has been served — but because of the uniform they wear. A police officer. Someone who was meant to protect the public. Instead, they abused their power, destroyed lives, and still managed to get treated with kid gloves by a system that’s supposed to hold everyone equally accountable.

This is a disgrace. It’s a pisstake, plain and simple.

How long do we have to watch this same scene play out before someone in government finally opens their eyes? How many more victims have to suffer in silence while their abusers — especially those in positions of power — get minimal sentences and media spin designed to soften the truth?

Wearing a police uniform doesn’t make you untouchable. It doesn’t make your crimes any less horrific. If anything, it makes them worse. These people are abusing trust, authority, and power — and yet they’re walking free or getting reduced time behind bars because of who they are, not what they’ve done.

What message is this sending to the victims? To the children who have been sexually abused? It says, “We don’t care. Not really.” It says, “You can speak out, but justice might not be on your side — especially if your abuser works for the system.” That’s what they’re hearing. That’s what this looks like.

When is the government going to wake up? When are they going to realise that child sex offences are not minor crimes — they are lifelong traumas. A child’s innocence and sense of safety is stolen forever. They grow up with shame, pain, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and more — and many don’t survive the emotional aftermath.

So why are we still handing out short sentences like it's petty theft? Why are we giving these monsters second chances when they’ve taken so much from their victims?

There should be no leniency for child sex offenders — especially not those who wore a badge. Wearing a uniform doesn’t make you immune to justice — it should mean you’re held to a higher standard. These are not isolated mistakes. These are deliberate acts of harm that devastate lives.

Judges handing out these pitiful sentences are just as guilty of failing victims. They have the power to send a strong message — but time and time again, they don’t. Instead, they protect reputations, not children. They reduce sentences because of “good character” or “community standing” — even when there’s clear evidence of abuse. What “good character” does a child abuser have?

The system is broken. And it’s broken in a way that seems to protect predators more than it protects children.

Child sex offences should carry life sentences. Because that’s exactly what the victims receive — a life sentence of trauma, of trying to rebuild what was stolen, of learning to trust again. The least the justice system can do is reflect that weight in its punishment.

Until then, there is no justice. Just a system full of cowardice, excuses, and people in power looking the other way.