Police reassure cruisers after married officer spied on gay lovers

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Police have said they do not routinely monitor gay cruising sites after a married police officer used databases to search for information about his gay lovers.

Swansea constable Haydn Evans, 54, admitted 12 counts of illegally accessing data.

He had abused the police computer database to search for personal information about six of his male lovers, including their health backgrounds.

He also used the database to try to find out whether his car had been spotted at any of the outdoor cruising sites he visited in South Wales.

After he was convicted yesterday, police said they only monitor cruising sites when complaints have been made or as part of an investigation.

A police spokeswoman told the South Wales Evening Post: “As a police service we have a duty of care to the public, so our officers patrol all areas of our communities to keep South Wales safe.

“We would reassure our communities that it is not standard South Wales Police practice, however, to specifically monitor an area without an investigative cause.”

Evans searched for reported incidents using keywords such as “bum boy” and “homosexual”. He checked locations such as Sketty Lane, Mumbles Road and Fabian Way, all of which are cruising sites.

He was given a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs.

The court heard he had tried to keep his gay relationships secret from his wife and two grown-up sons.

He has been suspended and may lose his job.

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