A policeman accused of misusing his powers and persuading a vulnerable woman to lie about their sexual relationship will not face a retrial. The Crown Prosecution Service has announced that it will not seek a retrial for South Wales Police constable Paul Higgins. The officer was accused of starting an intimate relationship with a woman who had been a victim of domestic violence, after working on her case. It was alleged that he then came up with a “cover story” and convinced the woman to lie about how they first met.
Paul Higgins, 42, denied these accusations and claimed that he and the woman had briefly dated several years earlier after meeting on a night out in Cardiff. They apparently crossed paths again during his duties with the police force. The constable, hailing from Hengoed in Caerphilly County, stood trial at Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court. Ultimately, the judge directed the jury to find Mr. Higgins not guilty of misusing his police powers and three counts of computer misuse. However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining charge and was subsequently discharged.
Following this, the Crown Prosecution Service was given time to consider whether a retrial would be sought. After careful consideration and consultation with the complainant, it has been decided that there will be no retrial for PC Higgins. The officer has been suspended since May 2021 when the Independent Office for Police Conduct began investigating a referral about his conduct.
The decision not to proceed with a retrial was made by the CPS after taking all matters into consideration. A CPS spokesman stated, “We carefully considered the issue of whether to seek a retrial and consulted the complainant. After taking all matters into consideration, we decided not to seek a retrial.” The case involving PC Higgins underscores the importance of accountability and scrutiny in maintaining the integrity of law enforcement.