Former GMP officer to be barred after contacting sex workers on duty
Ex-Inspector Toby Knight found guilty of gross misconduct after five years of inappropriate contact
A former Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer will be permanently barred from serving in law enforcement after it was found he had inappropriate contact with adult sex workers while both on and off duty over a five-and-a-half-year period.
Former Inspector Toby Knight, who served in GMP for 17 years, resigned just one day before a disciplinary hearing that concluded on 29th May. Despite his resignation, a disciplinary panel—led by GMP’s Chief Resources Officer—ruled that Knight would have been dismissed had he still been serving. He will now be placed on the barred list, prohibiting future employment within policing.
The investigation was overseen by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and carried out by GMP’s Anti-Corruption Unit. It found that Knight had breached multiple elements of the Standards of Professional Behaviour, including authority, respect and courtesy, discreditable conduct, honesty and integrity, and following orders and instructions.
Knight was arrested on 2nd April 2024 and, during a criminal interview, admitted contacting adult sex workers for personal use while on duty.
Extensive phone record analysis revealed he had contacted sex workers 245 times using his work phone between September 2018 and March 2024, with 176 of those interactions occurring while he was either on duty, attending training, or reported sick. His personal phone showed an additional 357 contacts (259 outgoing and 98 incoming) between May 2023 and April 2024.
The investigation found no legitimate policing reason for the contacts. In fact, adverts for adult services matched the phone numbers contacted by Knight, and some sex workers confirmed receiving messages from his work phone.
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.”
The outcome underscores the ongoing scrutiny placed on police integrity, particularly when public trust is at stake.