Rachel Bill, 53, was in charge of offenders at the Wiltshire Police Department for Sexual and Violent Violence Management. The relationship she had with the man convicted rapist led her to be accused of misconduct in public office. On Wednesday, she was sentenced to six months in prison by a Bristol court after pleading guilty to the offense in January. The case was investigated by the Independent Police Conduct Office (IOPC). She said Beale, from Oxfordshire, also abused her position during Covid lockdown restrictions by making hotel reservations that had nothing to do with her work. Beale’s insult and misconduct took place between February and September 2020. He has already resigned from Wiltshire Police and a disciplinary hearing concluded he would have been fired if he had not. She has been banned from working for the police. Philip Wilkinson, Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner, said: “Rachel Beale betrayed the public trust when she started an inappropriate, intimate relationship with a male perpetrator who was responsible for overseeing his release from prison. “This will inevitably damage the public confidence in policing and both the warden and I will eliminate all traces of corruption and misconduct in the Wiltshire police. “We are both absolutely committed to ensuring that public confidence does not get to the point where it breaks down irreparably.” IOPC Regional Director Derrick Campbell said: “After our investigation, Rachel Bill admitted that she had a close relationship for a period of time with a man she was going to supervise professionally. “Even though he knew there was an imbalance of power, he sought the relationship. She also admitted that she had misused her police ID to lock up hotel rooms, while Covid was restricted and without policing, and that he had been treated more favorably than others he had managed. “She abused her position and has now been convicted by a criminal court of her actions, which had significant potential to undermine public confidence in Wiltshire police. “The public must be reassured that they can no longer play a role in policing.” There are several cases where officers have abused their position, with more expected in court. Beale’s case was unusual, with the crime being committed by a woman. Paul Mills, Wiltshire Deputy Chief of Police, added: “I want our communities across Swindon and Wiltshire to have the utmost confidence in their police force and, although cases like this highlight the frustrating and unacceptable minority, I hope that the The public can see this. We are committed to eradicating any kind of inappropriate behavior and to take appropriate measures. “
