Gary Hastings

Gary Hastings, aged 48, a former police community support officer (PCSO) with Humberside Police, was jailed for 10 years in January 2012 after pleading guilty to seven counts of sexual activity with two children. Hastings, who served in Immingham, north-east Lincolnshire, and had previously worked as a foster carer, abused his position to carry out these child sex offences.

The case came to light amid broader concerns about sexual misconduct within the police service. Hastings was suspended from his role following the allegations and subsequently resigned from Humberside Police. His conviction highlights a pattern of abuse by officers in positions of authority, as documented in a Guardian investigation published in June 2012, which revealed 56 cases involving police officers and PCSOs accused of raping, sexually assaulting, or harassing vulnerable women and children while on duty.

IPCC commissioner Nicholas Long commented on related cases, stating, 'In this case a woman has real concerns about how she was dealt with and how the investigation was conducted. I believe it is in the public interest for the IPCC to independently investigate the handling of this case.' Although Long's remarks primarily addressed another Humberside PCSO sexual assault allegation, they underscore the systemic issues exposed by Hastings' crimes. The Association of Chief Police Officers and the IPCC launched a joint inquiry into police sexual misconduct, with a report scheduled for publication in September 2012.

Hastings' sentencing occurred in January 2012 at a court in the Humberside area, following his guilty plea. The offences involved sexual exploitation of minors, fitting into the wider context of child sex offences committed by those in trusted roles. Humberside Police handled the initial investigation, leading to his arrest and prosecution.