Actions of former West Mercia Police officer facing jail over revenge porn victim misconduct 'extremely serious' says watchdog

Former Ludlow Police Constable, Mark Cranfield, was found guilty of two counts of misconduct in public office, following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court last week.

The 52-year-old former royal protection officer, who was previously employed by The Met and West Mercia Police, was found not guilty of one offence under the Computer Misuse Act, 1990, but had also previously pleaded guilty to one count of computer misuse.

Cranfield, of Bromfield, near Ludlow, broke down in the dock after being warned that he is likely to be jailed when he returns to court in February.

The case followed an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

He had been accused of pursuing an inappropriate, sexual relationship with a woman who was a victim of revenge porn.

The IOPC said that it started investigating Cranfield in July 2021 after a referral from West Mercia Police.

The watchdog said that in October 2018, a woman had reported being the subject of revenge porn, by her former partner.

She provided a statement and evidence to PC Cranfield.

But in July 2021, the woman told West Mercia Police during an unconnected investigation, that PC Cranfield had made her feel uncomfortable and that he had sent her a Facebook ‘friends request’, as well as several messages containing intimate details about his personal life.

She told how she did not want any further contact with him and in November 2018, withdrew her complaint against her ex-partner.

Ex-PC Cranfield continued to message the woman, which led to her changing her mobile number.   

When the officer’s work mobile phone was examined, two photos and an intimate video of the woman, which had been submitted as evidence, were found.

Cranfield had shared the video via WhatsApp although the account that received the messages has never been found.

The IOPC said that an audit of West Mercia Police Intelligence systems also showed how PC Cranfield had also researched information about the woman who had made the revenge porn complaint.

The same audit revealed that he had also used police systems to search for information about his relatives.

Cranfield, who retired from the force in May 2022, was a constable for 27 years and had spent the majority of his service with the Metropolitan Police on royal protection duties.

He had also been an armed officer with the West Mercia force. 

Watchdog speaks out on 'extremely serious' actions of Ex West Mercia PC Mark Cranfield

IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell: “PC Cranfield’s actions prevented allegations of a criminal offence being fully investigated, following his pursuit of a relationship with a woman who was in a vulnerable situation. Alongside that, he accessed police systems without a policing purpose and used his work mobile phone to look at, share and keep evidence, without a policing purpose.

“The officer’s admission of using police intelligence systems in order to obtain personal information about his family is extremely serious. He had no legitimate reason for doing so and his actions have the potential to damage the public’s confidence in police officers.”

A statement from the IOPC added: "We also determined that he should face a misconduct hearing for potential gross misconduct. We will now liaise with the force on the next steps in relation to this."