Eight police officers under investigation over improper contact with sex workers

Greater Manchester Police is investigating allegations that a number of its officers and staff made inappropriate and non-legitimate contact with sex workers.

Eight officers – including a superintendent who has been suspended – and two police staff are currently under investigation.

One officer and two staff members have already been dismissed.

The inquiry is being led by GMP's Anti-Corruption Unit, which the force says is "proactively seeking out behaviour that falls below policing standards".

Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said there'll be public concern over the allegations but he said maintaining trust was central to GMP’s work.

“The vast, vast majority of our officers are professional, diligent and good people,” he said. “But our public rightly expects integrity and professionalism from every single person wearing our badge.”

The police said that rooting out wrongdoing is essential to rebuilding confidence.

"We owe it to sex workers, our colleagues and the wider public to ensure anyone found to be making inappropriate contact is dealt with," Mr Woods added.

Since the arrival of Chief Constable Stephen Watson in 2021, the force says it has accelerated misconduct procedures, resulting in more than 100 dismissals.

Other ongoing cases include investigations into suspected “key jamming”, with misconduct proceedings for 26 officers and staff expected to begin before Christmas.

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