A family has been left sickened after a police officer took photos of a dead mother’s body and shared them with his ex-partner while responding to a 999 call.
In May 2020, Ashley Langford, 47, found his partner Kelly unresponsive at their home in Harlow after she had taken her own life.
After Essex Police learned of Hinkins’ activities in late 2022, the Counter Corruption Unit launched an inquiry.
Hinkins, of Haverhill, Suffolk, resigned from the force in March 2023 before the misconduct procedures could be completed, but not before he was charged with and guilty of the criminal offence of misconduct in public office.
Having two boys, the youngest of whom is currently 16 years old, Mr Langford expressed his amazement and dismay at Hinkins’ length of service in his position prior to his resignation.
‘In May 2020, my partner took her life, I found her, rang emergency services, and whilst getting grilled in my own kitchen in my house by the police,’ Mr Langford said.
‘It turns out that the other one is upstairs taking photos on his own phone of my dead partner, and he’s decided to share them. I didn’t find this out until December 2022.
‘He wasn’t ex-police at the time. He was on an emergency call to me and found my partner hanging, and then you deal with that. I didn’t find out from the corruption people until two years down the line.
‘I was sort of dealing with what I had to deal with, then got this sprung on me. As soon as that was sprung on me, I think it cost me my career. I had to go off sick; they didn’t want me back because of my anger issues. They ill health retired me at the age of 47, and I loved my job.’
He added that his and his son’s faith in the force has been deeply shaken, and when his children see police now, it ‘triggers’ something in them.
He continued: ‘[Hinkins] resigned in March 2023, my partner was found in 2020. So he’s carried on for three years with a lovely, fat salary after what he did. He was only in my house because he was helping my family in our desperate time of need.
‘I had four police grilling me in my kitchen because they had to do that in case I had done it. How do I know he didn’t take more pictures? The police said he didn’t do that, but how do you know?
‘I’ve been trying to deal with my partner’s death, and then you get that put on you. When you call someone in need, you don’t expect them to do that.
‘I was just in shock. How can someone do that in that situation? I was there, and my boy was there. My partner was dead on the floor; they come in your house and they do that. I don’t understand the mentality of those people using his power [like that].’
Paying tribute to his partner, Mr Langford added, ‘She was fantastic; she would help anyone out. She was a waitress. She was very outgoing, loved looking after people and going the extra mile.’
When Hinkins sent messages to people on dating apps in 2018 and included images of himself in police gear, the police opened an investigation into possible misbehaviour.
The police stated that after reviewing the evidence, they could find no evidence of misbehaviour and that the case was closed as a teaching tool.
Hinkins allegedly snapped himself in his squad car and while on patrol in uniform, and even pledged to bring his handcuffs to a stranger he agreed to meet for sex in a flat above a bistro. After hours, he sent nude selfies to women he contacted through the website Plenty of Fish, The Mirror reported at the time.
Hinkins also appeared to have interrupted one shift supervising a vulnerable prisoner to send messages to a stranger. He told the woman: ‘I’m on a constant watch with a guy in custody who keeps throwing himself on the floor of the cell in an effort to break his own neck.’
His messages were discovered by a close friend when he left his computer unlocked. He told one would-be date: ‘Yes, I’m a policeman I may have to place u under arrest, cuff u up and interrogate u.’ He then sent a ‘cheesy selfie’ on duty after bragging about attending a fight. At the time, Hinkins said: ‘I deeply regret this situation and any embarrassment I may have caused Essex Police.’
A spokesman for Essex Police said: ‘The actions of Russ Hinkins have caused a great deal of distress to those involved, and through our investigation, he has been held accountable. The work of our Counter Corruption Unit revealed the extent of Hinkins’ actions and led to his charge and conviction.
This appears to be the new norm for police conduct.
What has become of our law enforcement agency? They are a complete failure, and the taxpayers foot the bill for their reprehensible actions.
We now have heinous police officers wearing that once illustrious uniform.
How many more instances of police misbehaviour that go unreported have included the abuse of authority and confidence?
This is actually a very sad read. You expect different from serving police officers. This is now a highlighted flaw within the police force and a lack of monitoring.
Without a doubt, this individual was just another bad apple in the corrupt police system. That’s why they are despised by everybody.
There appears to be little regard for either the living or the deceased.
He worked as a policeman. He acted without humanity, decency, or compassion—qualities that are no longer expected of a police officer.
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 