The police are meant to serve and protect the public, but in recent months law-breaking officers have been exposed.

Ever since former Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens was sentenced for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard, a spotlight has been shone on officers' conduct.

Here we look at four Hertfordshire-based or employed officers who have been accused of a crime - including two who were jailed this year.

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PC Ben Pitelen

Mr Pitelen was working in the road policing unit at Stevenage.

He was sentenced to 25 months’ imprisonment on February 4 after pleading guilty to corruption and making indecent images of children.

Watford Observer: PC Ben PitelenPC Ben Pitelen (Image: Hertfordshire Constabulary)

PC Pitelen had possession of nine of the most serious Category A images on his digital devices, six Category B images and 511 category C images, with forensic investigators noting the images were found on a number of devices spanning a number of years.

PC Jamie Negrello

Mr Negrello was employed by Hertfordshire Constabulary and had worked in Three Rivers.

He was banned from policing after pleading guilty to the coercive and controlling behaviour of a former partner.

Unnamed officer

A Herts police officer admitted calling his newborn baby “an attention-seeking whore” but denied causing multiple bruises.   

Both parents, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were arrested on suspicion of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Cambridgeshire Police concluded the evidence did not meet the threshold for criminal action. However, a family court, which has a lower 'on the balance of probability' threshold, concluded a "wealth of evidence" pointed to him injuring the child.

James Ford

The Hertfordshire Constabulary police officer has been sentenced to prison for 18 years and three months with an extended licence period of one year for raping a girl under the age of 13.

He was found guilty of 10 counts of sexual abuse against the same child.

Watford Observer: James FordJames Ford (Image: Hertfordshire Constabulary)

Ford, formerly of Bishop's Stortford, is placed on the Sex Offenders Register for life.

A Sexual Harm Prevention Order was also put in place, along with a restraining order to protect the victim.

Sergeant Emily Joshi

The police officer from Watford was cleared of assaulting a father mistaken for a robbery suspect.

Ms Joshi and her colleague PC Ozan Yelken, from Waltham Abbey, who both work for the Metropolitan Police, were found not guilty of assault by beating Emmanuel Ugborokefe at a trial at City of London Magistrates’ Court on September 30.

Watford Observer: Sergeant Emily Joshi. Picture: PA Sergeant Emily Joshi. Picture: PA (Image: PA)

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: “The trial followed an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

“Both officers were placed on restricted duties following their arrest.

“Now that criminal proceedings have concluded, we will liaise with the IOPC regarding next steps.”

Herts Police's Assistant Chief Constable, Genna Telfer, said: “These cases include horrific offences where the victims involved will suffer a level of trauma which they may never recover from.

"The individuals concerned were not fit to be police officers and it is the pro-active response of dedicated officers in a range of different ways that has brought these criminals to justice."

She added the force remains "unwavering" in its commitment to protecting women and girls, and is involved in numerous schemes to prevent the crimes.

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