Former Kent officer tasked with safeguarding vulnerable women would have been sacked for engaging with sex workers

A former Kent Police officer would have been dismissed from the force without notice had he not already retired, following an investigation directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).  

Today (Tuesday 8 September), a panel found former Police Constable (PC) Trevor Bonett’s conduct breached the policing standards of professional behaviour relating to honesty and integrity, duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct. The investigation was carried out by Kent Police’s Counter-Corruption Unit under the IOPC’s direction and control.  

The former officer, who was based at Maidstone, was responsible for reviewing intelligence relating specifically to Modern-day Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT) and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). As part of a wider investigation by the force, his personal mobile number was identified as having contact with a brothel in the Maidstone area on two occasions.  

As a result of further enquiries, phone data showed a pattern that PC Bonett made contact with sex lines or adult sex websites while he was on annual leave or on rest days. Enquiries established this contact was between January 2024 and June 2024.  

PC Bonett retired from the force in December 2025 prior to the gross misconduct hearing.  

After the two-day hearing, gross misconduct was proven against PC Bonett’s actions in relation to honesty and integrity, duties and responsibilities and discreditable conduct. The panel concluded that he would have been dismissed from the force without notice had he not already retired.  

He will be placed on the policing barred list which prevents him from working in policing in the future.  

IOPC Director of Engagement Emily Barry said: “Former PC Bonett clearly had an awareness of the vulnerabilities and safeguarding concerns that exist in relation to sex workers.  

“He was an experienced intelligence officer with a great deal of understanding of the complexities involved in modern slavery investigations and it was put to him in interview that he would have known that, when using these services, there was a high probability he was contacting a very vulnerable person.  

“He was specifically trained and regularly briefed in order to effectively safeguard sex workers who advertise on adult service websites, and he should have followed the correct policies to declare these associations that compromised his integrity and impartiality.  

"Through his roles, he would have known that these websites can be used by people to exploit victims of sexual exploitation, modern slavery and human trafficking.  

"Instead of using his wealth of knowledge to allow safeguarding and to potentially take action against those who exploit sex workers, he breached the trust placed in him for his own personal gratification, undermining the very important work others across policing do to protect vulnerable people.   

“His conduct fell way below the professional standards expected of him and through this hearing, he has now been held accountable for his actions.”  

Notes to editors:  

The following standards of professional behaviour were breached:  

• Discreditable Conduct 
• Honesty and Integrity (integrity only)  
• Duties and Responsibilities