Rikki Hall Sent to Crown Court Over Rape Allegations, Wales 2026

Key Points

• Rikki Hall, 33, a former South Wales Police constable, appeared at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
• Hall faces two charges of rape and one charge of intentional strangulation over alleged offences said to have occurred on February 3, 2024.
• He is also accused of two counts of misconduct in a public office.
• The allegations involve sexual activity with a member of the public whom Hall allegedly met while carrying out welfare and safeguarding checks.
• Hall is accused of arranging appointments with sex workers while on duty.
• He also faces a charge of possessing a canister of Pava spray without authorisation on February 15, 2024.
• District Judge Lynne Matthews sent the case to Bristol Crown Court.
• The court heard that Hall’s indicated pleas were not guilty.
• Hall was granted conditional bail and is due to appear at Bristol Crown Court on September 28.
• Hall resigned from South Wales Police while he was being investigated by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
• The IOPC said South Wales Police made a mandatory conduct referral in February 2024 and submitted a file to the Crown Prosecution Service in February 2025.

Wales (Wales Times) August 27, 2026 — A former South uk/police/">Wales Police officer has appeared before magistrates charged with raping a woman while he was on duty.

Rikki Hall, 33, attended Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning. Hall, who previously worked as a constable for South Wales Police and was based in Swansea, faces two counts of rape and one count of intentional strangulation.

The charges relate to an alleged incident on February 3, 2024. Hall is also accused of two counts of misconduct in a public office, which are alleged to have taken place on the same date.

According to the charges presented to the court, Hall allegedly engaged in sexual activity with a member of the public whom he had met while carrying out welfare and safeguarding checks as part of his police duties.

The allegations have not been proven. Hall has indicated not guilty pleas, and the case will now proceed through the Crown Court.

Which criminal charges does Rikki Hall face?

Hall faces five charges linked to the alleged events of February 3, 2024: two counts of rape, one count of intentional strangulation and two counts of misconduct in a public office.

The rape and intentional strangulation allegations concern a woman Hall is alleged to have encountered while performing welfare and safeguarding checks. Those checks are carried out by police officers when there are concerns about a person’s safety, welfare or vulnerability.

The misconduct in a public office charges concern Hall’s conduct while he was serving as a police constable. The prosecution case alleges that he used his position improperly by engaging in sexual activity with a member of the public he met during his work.

Hall also faces a separate charge of possessing a canister of Pava spray without the authority of the Secretary of State. That allegation relates to February 15, 2024.

Pava spray is an incapacitant spray issued to authorised police officers. The charge alleges that Hall possessed the canister without the required authority on the date specified.

What did Bristol Magistrates’ Court decide?

District Judge Lynne Matthews sent the case to Bristol Crown Court, where the more serious allegations will be dealt with.

Addressing Hall, Judge Matthews said: “I will now send you to the crown court at Bristol. I note that the indicated pleas are not guilty.”

Magistrates’ courts handle early hearings in criminal cases, including decisions on bail and whether an allegation must be sent to the Crown Court. Serious offences such as rape are heard in the Crown Court, where a jury can determine whether a defendant is guilty or not guilty.

Hall was released on conditional bail following the hearing. The conditions of that bail were not detailed in the information available.

He is scheduled to appear next at Bristol Crown Court on September 28.

What are the allegations about appointments with sex workers?

The former officer is alleged to have arranged appointments with sex workers while he was on duty.

This allegation forms part of the wider case concerning Hall’s conduct during his time as a serving police officer. The information provided does not state the number of alleged appointments, the dates on which they were allegedly arranged, or whether the allegation is linked to a separate criminal count beyond the charges already listed.

The prosecution will be required to present evidence in support of each allegation as the case progresses. Hall is entitled to challenge the evidence and has indicated not guilty pleas.

When did Rikki Hall leave South Wales Police?

Hall resigned from South Wales Police while an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, known as the IOPC, was under way.

The force was subject to external scrutiny through the IOPC investigation after concerns were referred to the watchdog. South Wales Police has not been attributed with further statements in the material provided for this report.

The fact that Hall resigned does not determine the criminal allegations against him. The charges will be decided through the court process.

What did the IOPC say about its investigation?

The IOPC said on Wednesday that it received a mandatory conduct referral from South Wales Police in February 2024.

A mandatory referral is made when a police force identifies an incident or allegation that meets the legal threshold for referral to the police watchdog. The IOPC considers the matter and can decide whether to investigate independently, direct or supervise an investigation, or allow the force to investigate under other arrangements.

The watchdog said a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service in February 2025.

The Crown Prosecution Service subsequently authorised criminal charges against Hall. The precise date on which the charges were authorised was not included in the information available.

The IOPC’s involvement concerns police conduct and accountability. The criminal case is separate and will be determined by the courts.

What happens next in the case against Rikki Hall?

Hall is due to attend Bristol Crown Court on September 28 while on conditional bail.

At the Crown Court, the case is expected to move into its next procedural stage. This may include confirmation of the allegations, plea issues, case-management directions and arrangements for the disclosure and consideration of evidence.

No trial date was stated at the magistrates’ court hearing. A Crown Court judge will determine the timetable for future hearings.

Hall’s indicated not guilty pleas mean the allegations remain contested. The prosecution must prove its case to the criminal standard of proof before a jury can convict. Hall remains presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty by a court.

What is the background to the Rikki Hall case?

The case began after South Wales Police made a mandatory conduct referral to the IOPC in February 2024, the same month in which the alleged offences are said to have occurred.

The allegations centre on the conduct of a serving officer during welfare and safeguarding work. Such police contact can involve members of the public who may need assistance or protection, making the alleged use of an officer’s position a central aspect of the misconduct accusations.

The IOPC said evidence was submitted to the CPS in February 2025. Prosecutors then authorised the charges that were heard at Bristol Magistrates’ Court. Hall resigned from South Wales Police during the watchdog’s investigation.

How could the case affect the public and police service users?

The case may be significant for people who come into contact with police during welfare and safeguarding checks, particularly individuals who may already be in vulnerable circumstances.

The criminal proceedings will examine the specific allegations against Hall. Separately, the case is likely to draw attention to how police forces identify, report and investigate concerns involving officers’ conduct while on duty.

For members of the public, the outcome may affect confidence in safeguards surrounding police interactions. For South Wales Police and other forces, the case may reinforce scrutiny of reporting procedures, professional standards and oversight arrangements. These wider implications will depend on the evidence heard and the outcome of the court case.