Bethany Hemstock

Introduction

Bethany Hemstock is a former police officer with Humberside Police who admitted misconduct in public office after forging signatures on witness statements connected to three shop-theft investigations in Hull. The 30-year-old, of Bounty Drive in Hull, signed three statements in other people’s names between 31 October and 12 December 2024 while working in the force’s shop theft department . She was sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court on 2 November 2026 to eight months’ imprisonment, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid work . An accelerated misconduct hearing in October 2026 had already found her conduct amounted to gross misconduct, and she was placed on the College of Policing barred list .

Background Information

Hemstock served as a response officer with Humberside Police and worked in the force’s shop theft department, where her duties included calling stores and obtaining details for theft investigations . Before the misconduct came to light she had a decorated record: Judge John Thackray KC told the sentencing hearing she had been commended by a chief constable on three separate occasions — for helping a suicidal woman, for challenging a man who was threatening an acid attack with a shotgun, and for helping a pregnant woman . Local reporting noted she had always wanted to be a police officer and, after leaving the force, had secured a new job .

The Controversy or Incident That Led to Their Cancellation

Misconduct in public office admitted; forged witness statements.

Between 31 October and 12 December 2024, Hemstock forged signatures on witness statements in three separate Hull shop-theft cases . The forgery unraveled when a store manager contacted ahead of a court case said she had never signed or given the statement attributed to her, and said the details in it were wrong — she had not even attempted to apprehend the suspect the statement claimed she had chased . Prosecution counsel Mollie Briggs told the court all three people whose signatures were forged denied the statements were theirs, and one said they felt they were “being painted as a liar” because “everyone was telling me I’d given a statement when I hadn’t” . When arrested and interviewed in August 2025, Hemstock first denied signing the statements, then admitted them when presented with evidence, telling detectives “I think I have ****ed up. But I will let you ask your questions” and explaining she had been under pressure at work to clear cases . Judge Thackray found her motive was not to implicate innocent people but “to speed up the process of detection of shoplifters”, while stressing the offence was “extremely serious” and “undermines the public’s confidence in police officers” .

Public Reaction and Consequences

Humberside Police’s Anti-Corruption Unit opened an investigation in July 2025 after the witness dispute surfaced, and the Crown Prosecution Service concluded her actions were dishonest and criminal . Charges of making a false instrument and attempting to pervert the course of justice were left on file after her guilty plea to misconduct in public office . The force reviewed the three cases that relied on the falsified statements and said CCTV footage and admissions of guilt meant the underlying convictions stood without retrials . Detective Superintendent Rebecca Dickinson, head of professional standards, said officers have a duty to conduct investigations “with diligence and integrity”, adding that Hemstock “acted against established training and guidance” and “misled the judicial process by submitting falsified signed statements into evidence” .

Current Status

Hemstock was sentenced at Grimsby Crown Court on 2 November 2026 to eight months’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months, with 200 hours of unpaid work . The October 2026 accelerated misconduct hearing found gross misconduct proved and determined she would have been dismissed without notice had she not already resigned; she is on the College of Policing barred list . Judge Thackray, citing her previous good character, the commendations, and her “very significant family and personal responsibilities” at the time of the offending, told her “I have very little doubt you will ever appear before a court again” and said an appropriate sentence could be achieved in the community .

Impact on Their Career/Life

A police career that had drawn three chief constable’s commendations ended in resignation ahead of certain dismissal, a criminal conviction, and a place on the national barred list that prevents her from working in policing or related trusted roles . The judge observed that “all of that hard work, bravery and diligence has been undone by your catastrophic error of judgement” . Local reporting noted she had found a new job after leaving the force, but the conviction and barring now form part of any future check on her record .

Sources

• “Police officer who forged signatures sentenced” — BBC News: source