Former Greater Manchester Police inspector would have been dismissed for contacting adult sex workers on and off duty

A former Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer will be barred from policing after contacting adult sex workers while on and off duty over a five and a half year period.

Following an investigation directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) Anti-Corruption Unit and conducted by GMP’s Anti-Corruption Unit, gross misconduct was found proven against former Inspector Toby Knight. A disciplinary panel led by GMP’s Chief Resources Officer today (29 May) ruled that Insp Knight would have been dismissed had he not already resigned.

The officer who resigned a day before the hearing, and had 17 years service, will be added to the barred list preventing him from working for the police in future after he was found to have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour for authority, respect and courtesy, discreditable conduct, honesty and integrity and orders and instructions.

Insp Knight was arrested by officers on 2 April 2024 and during his criminal interview he accepted that he had contacted sex workers for his personal use while he was on duty.

As part of the investigation, analysis of both the officer’s work and personal mobile billing was undertaken which showed frequent ongoing contact with adult sex workers both on and off duty. At no stage in the investigation was any apparent policing purpose identified for the contact he had with the adult sex workers.

A review of Insp Knight’s work mobile phone identified adult sex workers were contacted 245 times between September 2018 and March 2024. Further analysis established that 176 of those outgoing communications occurred when Insp Knight was on duty, booked onto a training course or reported as being sick.

Furthermore, a review of the former officer’s personal phone showed communications with sex workers 357 times (259 outgoing and 98 incoming) between May 2023 and April 2024.

Adverts offering the adult sex worker services were obtained during the investigation and they corresponded to the phone numbers that Insp Knight was in contact with at the time.

Investigators spoke to adult sex workers that were contacted by Insp Knight and were provided confirmation of text message exchanges from his work number.

IOPC Director Amanda Rowe said: “Every police officer holds an incredibly privileged position in society and it is vital their behaviour both on and off duty does not discredit the police service.

“At the outset of their service, it is made clear to officers that it is unacceptable to have or seek inappropriate and unprofessional contact like this. Insp Knight’s actions are compounded by the fact the communication was so extensive and over a very long period of time. Cases such as these have the real potential to impact on public confidence in the police.

“Today’s decision sends a clear message that this behaviour and wilful breach of standards has no place in policing and Insp Knight will now be barred from working for the police in future.”