In 2018, the Offender Database recorded that 43-year-old Steven Halliwell, a former officer with the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) High Tech Crime Unit, was sentenced for downloading child abuse images and stealing police equipment. Halliwell—of Lee Avenue, Great Lever, Bolton—admitted to four counts of making indecent images across all three categories of seriousness, involving a total of 314 photographs. It was reported that the investigation was launched after the force discovered that Halliwell had been abusing his position within the specialist unit to access illegal material and misappropriate seized devices.
The investigation established that Halliwell had also engaged in a systematic campaign of theft from his employer over a five-year period. Liverpool Crown Court heard that between 2011 and 2016, Halliwell stole three Apple laptops, 15 iPhones, two iPad minis, and three Samsung mobile phones, with a combined value of £4,804. The prosecution reported that these items belonged to Greater Manchester Police and were intended for investigative use, yet Halliwell diverted them for his own purposes before resigning from the force in May 2018.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Halliwell’s actions represented a profound breach of public trust, particularly given his role in the High Tech Crime Unit at Bolton. Liverpool Crown Court heard from Halliwell’s barrister that the defendant denied having a sexual interest in children, claiming the images were “incidentally created” while formatting a hard drive. However, the investigation established that the volume and categorisation of the 314 images were sufficient for Halliwell to plead guilty to the criminal charges, leading the judge to warn him of the “inevitability” of a custodial sentence.
Judge Andrew Menary, QC, presided over the proceedings, ordering Halliwell to sign the Sex Offenders Register immediately upon his conviction. For his actions in Bolton and within the Greater Manchester Police, he was further remanded until his final sentencing in December 2018 to allow for the preparation of a pre-sentence report. The judge noted that the combination of stealing police property and possessing child abuse material made Halliwell’s position indefensible, requiring a sentence that reflected the gravity of his betrayal of the badge.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the records reported in Greater Manchester, the status of Steven Halliwell as of April 5, 2026, was as follows:
- Custodial Status: RELEASED (Served custodial term; sentenced 2018; released on licence circa 2020).
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active (Standard term for category/volume of images).
- DBS Status: Placed on the Barring List (Indefinite ban on working with children).
- Professional Status: Dismissed/Resigned from GMP; barred from future police service.
- Legal Status: CONVICTED (Making indecent images of children; Theft; 5 counts total).
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court; investigated by Greater Manchester Police Professional Standards.
- Criminal Record: Possession of 314 child abuse images; Theft of 23 police electronic devices; Abuse of High Tech Crime Unit access.
- Origin: Lee Avenue, Great Lever, Bolton, Greater Manchester.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Halliwell is managed as a registered sex offender within the Bolton area following his release from prison. Due to the nature of his conduct—which involved utilizing his expertise in digital forensics to access child abuse material—his management is a priority for the GMP Offender Management Unit. Authorities state that his technical proficiency and history of stealing encrypted police hardware indicate a high-level digital risk that requires specialized monitoring of his home internet and devices.
As a registered sex offender, the (then) 43-year-old’s details are permanently logged on the national police database. Authorities state that his notification requirements ensure he must report any acquisition of new technology or changes in his living arrangements. Any failure to notify police of his movements in Bolton, any attempt to access restricted forensic software, or any unauthorized possession of police-grade hardware will result in immediate arrest to ensure the ongoing safety of the public from his demonstrated pattern of digital exploitation and professional misconduct.
QUESTION – Given that the offender was a specialist in a High Tech Crime Unit and used his expertise to steal devices and access abuse images, do you believe that “Enhanced Digital Surveillance” should be a lifelong legal requirement for any IT professional or police officer convicted of digital sex crimes?
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