Avon and Somerset Police officer accused of child abuse

A police officer has been charged with a number of child sex crimes.

Insp Thomas Kettleborough, 35, who was based at Avon and Somerset Police headquarters, was arrested in July 2023 on suspicion of arranging or facilitating the commission of a child sex offense.

He was interviewed and released on conditional bail, and suspended, but further investigations led to him being arrested on March 19 on suspicion of further offences.

He is due to appear at Exeter District Court on Wednesday after being charged with further sexual offenses and assaulting a police officer.

Avon and Somerset Police said his arrest was part of a proactive police operation led by the South West Regional Organized Crime Unit (SWROCU) Online Investigations Team.

The Crown Prosecution Service has approved a number of charges against him, including arranging or facilitating a child sex offence, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to induce or incite a child to engage in sexual activity.

They also include five counts of sexual communication with a child, four counts of taking an indecent photograph or pseudo-photograph of a child and assaulting a care worker.

Police said Insp Kettleborough was involved with two voluntary organizations – the Royal Marine Cadets and the Royal Life Saving Society UK – but did not confirm any of the offenses linked to these roles.

Assistant Chief Constable Joanne Hall said: “We know that public confidence in the National Police remains fragile and we have a shared desire to increase the public’s confidence in us.

“We will continue to take decisive action and be clear about the behavior and standards we expect from our people. Where these standards are not met, we will act quickly and decisively.”

She added that the force had “worked closely” with the voluntary organizations Insp Kettleborough was involved with and had “prioritized” safeguarding measures.

A spokesperson for the force also confirmed that its own Professional Standards department was conducting an internal investigation.

They urged anyone with information about Insp Kettleborough’s alleged offenses to contact them.