Shocking GMP Scandal: Ten Officers Ejected Over Sex Worker Ties

Two additional police officers have departed Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in disgrace following an extensive internal investigation into a group of officers contacting sex workers. Sergeant Liam Smith and another individual, identified only as 'Former Officer A', both resigned from the force before their separate disciplinary hearings. These hearings ultimately found them guilty of gross misconduct for engaging with adult sex workers without any legitimate policing purpose. Their resignations bring the total number of GMP officers who have left for similar reasons to ten.

The catalyst for the force's Anti-Corruption Unit investigation was the case of Inspector Toby Knight, who was found to have scheduled hundreds of meetings with sex workers using his force-issued phone, even while on duty. This initial case led to the wider inquiry that uncovered the activities of other officers.

Sergeant Smith's misconduct included making a series of contacts with sex workers both while on and off duty. On August 3, 2024, while off duty, he used his work mobile to contact an adult sex worker on three occasions, making two voice calls and sending a text. The following month, on September 25, he again used his GMP device to call another number attributed to an adult sex worker just before midnight, this time while on duty. Furthermore, Sgt Smith was found to have used his GMP mobile to research six sex worker numbers, despite there being no policing justification for such actions. He did not attend his disciplinary hearing or respond to the allegations, which Assistant Chief Officer Catherine Hankinson, chairing the hearing, found to be 'proven'. She concluded that Sgt Smith's behavior was 'most likely for sexual gratification' and that he 'should have known that what he was doing was wrong and improper'. Had he not already resigned, he would have been dismissed. His name has now been added to the College of Policing's 'barred list', preventing him from future employment in policing.

In a separate hearing held the subsequent day, 'Former Officer A' was also found guilty of gross misconduct for contacting sex workers. The reasons for anonymizing this officer's identity and omitting their rank were not provided. This officer also failed to attend their hearing or address the allegations, which were found to be 'proven'. The allegations stated that 'Former Officer A' used their GMP mobile 12 times to contact five numbers linked to adult sex workers between June 11, 2019, and June 28, 2022, all while off duty. These numbers were identified from sex worker advertisements.

Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson, who chaired 'Former Officer A's' hearing, underscored the severity of the misconduct. He stated, "It is well known, particularly amongst experienced police officers, that adult sex workers are frequently vulnerable people with complex needs who are often exploited by criminal third parties. That the former officer wilfully engaged in such contact, ran the obvious risk of perpetuating the vulnerability of their contacts. Self-evidently, the police are here to safeguard vulnerable people not to add to the misery of their existence."