Officer 'persistently' tried to contact sex workers

A former police officer would have been dismissed had he not resigned for being "dishonest" and "persistently trying" to contact sex workers, a panel has found.

A two-day gross misconduct hearing at Leicestershire Police's headquarters in Enderby on Thursday heard a police officer - who was granted anonymity by the force - was accused of attempting to contact sex workers and being dishonest.

The officer told investigators they lent their phone to someone they did not know on a night out, which was why calls were made to escorts, the hearing heard.

The panel concluded the officer - who has resigned - would have been dismissed without notice and would be placed on the police's barred list.

The panel also found they were "persistently trying to procure sexual services" before determining that the officer had committed gross misconduct.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said the panel heard calls were made on 8 December 2024 to three sex worker contacts after 00:00 GMT.

Further calls were made just after 02:00 to three other numbers, that were not saved on the officer's phone, but were associated with sex workers.

The hearing also heard the officer - who had been in the police since 2004 - also had six previous traces of numbers associated with sex workers on their phone, including WhatsApp chats between 2019 and 2025.

In summing up their decision and findings, chair of the panel, Julia Debenham, said the officer's response to the calls made to sex workers on 8 December was "implausible and untrue" and that it was "more likely than not" that the officer tried to contact sex workers.

The LDRS said the officer was the third in less than two months who would have been dismissed for contacting sex workers - all of which were made anonymous.

Liz Briggs, representing the force, said as a result of the officer's "sexual impropriety", harm was "high" in what was called "repeated and sustained behaviour".

She said: "They would have been aware of the risks of their behaviour. Sexual impropriety is serious … Any evidence that a police officer is dishonest is serious".

Andy Spence, from the Police Federation, said the officer's former colleagues described him as "well-respected" and "sensitive", and that he would "always be there" for them.

The previous hearing also heard how the officer argued that even though WhatsApp conversations were opened with escorts, no messages were sent to them and were instead used by the officer for sexual gratification.

The officer did not appear at either hearing to answer questions, issue a statement, or defend themselves against the allegations.

Emily Barry, IOPC director of engagement, said: "National Police Chiefs Council guidance regarding sex workers is clear, that it is unacceptable for any police officer to have, or seek inappropriate and unprofessional contact in the way this officer did.

"This particular officer had professional experience in safeguarding, vulnerability and modern slavery, so he would have known his behaviour was completely unacceptable.

"It would also be reasonable to expect an officer with his background to have an awareness of the potential for exploitation within the sex industry."

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