Former member of GMP staff has been sentenced for child sex offences

Abdul-Bari Shafiq (06/02/2000) of Rooley Street, Rochdale, has been sentenced today (Friday 29 October 2021) at Manchester Crown Court (Minshull Street) after pleading guilty in August of this year to two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual communication.

In October 2020, it came to light that a police staff member was engaging in online communication with what he believed to be a 12-year-old girl, when in fact he was engaging with a Covert Officer. 

Abdul-Bari Shafiq was employed as an apprentice with GMP's Operation Communications Branch, and was arrested on 29 October 2020 and suspended from duty the following day. His 12 month contract with the force ended on 28 March 2021.

Shafiq was subsequently charged in July 2021 with two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual communication. He pleaded guilty to the offences on his first appearance at Manchester Magistrates Court on 23 August 2021.

He will now serve a 15 month suspended sentence over two years, has been subjected to a sexual harm prevention order for five years, and will be added to the sex offender's register for five years. 

He's also subject to a baring notice, 150 hours unpaid work, and a victim surcharge of £156. 

The Professional Standards Branch conducted the criminal and disciplinary investigations. Misconduct proceeding will now take place.

Detective Constable Dominic Brady, from GMP's Professional Standards Branch said: "Officers used specialist covert tactics to uncover Mr. Shafiq's deplorable crimes, and thankfully were able to intercept him before he caused significant harm.

"We are pleased he is now being held accountable and punished for his crimes and I hope this sends a message to anyone who is committing these crimes that we will seek to track you down and bring you to justice."