Inspector who phoned sex workers on duty banned

A police inspector who made hundreds of calls on a force mobile phone to sex workers over six years, many while he was working, has been banned from policing.

Greater Manchester Police said Toby Knight had resigned from the force on Wednesday, the day before he was due to appear before a disciplinary panel.

The panel ruled that Insp Knight would have been sacked if he had not resigned.

Amanda Rowe, director of the police watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said: "Insp Knight's actions are compounded by the fact the communication was so extensive and over a very long period of time."

The IOPC said the officer, who had served for 17 years, was found to have "breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour for authority, respect and courtesy, discreditable conduct, honesty and integrity and orders and instructions".

It comes after Knight was investigated by Greater Manchester Police's (GMP) anti-corruption unit.

Det Supt Simon Hurst of the GMP's Professional Standards Directorate said the force was committed to investigating officers like Knight who "fall below the high standards and expectations we expect".

He said Knight had been found guilty of gross misconduct at the hearing.

He was arrested on 2 April 2024 and accepted during questioning he had contacted sex workers while on duty.

A review of his work mobile phone calls identified adult sex workers were contacted 245 times between September 2018 and March 2024, with 176 calls taking place while he was working.

In addition, a study of his personal mobile phone showed 357 communications with sex workers between May 2023 and April 2024 - 259 outgoing and 98 incoming.

Investigators matched numbers on adverts for sex workers to those Knight had called.

They also spoke with sex workers contacted by Knight who confirmed text exchanges with him.

Ms Rowe also said: "Cases such as these have the real potential to impact on public confidence in the police."

Det Supt Hurst said: "Knight will also be placed on the Policing Barred List so as to ensure he doesn't work in law enforcement again."

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