James Land, a 43-year-old former Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) employed by Derbyshire Police in a safeguarding cybercrime role, has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for possessing and distributing indecent images of children, as well as voyeurism offences. Land, who engaged with children suspected of low-level computer misuse and delivered online safety talks in schools, abused his position of trust over nearly two decades. His criminal activities came to light in May 2021 when Derbyshire Police discovered disturbing material on his work laptop during an internal investigation, leading to his arrest at police headquarters.
The court heard that Land had downloaded almost 1,500 images and videos of child sexual abuse, including hundreds in the most serious Category A. These materials, spanning from 2002 to 2021, depicted children as young as two being abused. Officers seized nine devices from his property, including a personal laptop, mobile phone, and external hard drive, all containing the illicit content. Additionally, a bag filled with underwear ranging from adult sizes to those suitable for children aged up to 13 was found under his bed in his Cromford home in the Peak District.
In a particularly egregious incident in 2015, Land filmed seven children, aged between three and five, as they changed in a swimming pool in Chesterfield. He used his presence at the baths to secretly record them in private moments, causing significant distress to the families involved. Impact statements read by prosecutor Sarah Slater highlighted the profound effects: one parent stated, 'The distress over images of our daughter in this way is something that will never leave us. We no longer feel able to trust people, especially when they're near our children.' Another parent expressed feeling 'uneasy' about trusting those in positions of authority. Land also admitted to filming and photographing an adult woman without her consent.
Land pleaded guilty in April to multiple charges, including five counts of possessing indecent images, five counts of voyeurism, and one related to the non-consensual recording of the adult woman. At Derby Crown Court, Judge Nirmal Shant QC described the backdrop of Land's crimes as shocking, noting his role in child prevention since 2017. The judge imposed concurrent sentences of 20 months for the indecent images, three months for voyeurism, and four months for the adult offence, totalling 27 months' custody. Land was further subjected to a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order. Following his suspension, he resigned from Derbyshire Police in April. Deputy Chief Constable Kate Meynell condemned his actions, stating, 'There is no place in Derbyshire Constabulary for anyone who commits serious crimes such as this,' and confirmed ongoing gross misconduct proceedings to bar him from future police work.
The case, reported by BBC News, underscores the betrayal of public trust by those in safeguarding roles. Land, originally from Cromford and later residing in Abergale, north Wales, admitted to possessing 369 Category A images, 262 Category B, and 686 Category C images.