Police officer sacked after indecent images conviction

A Greater Manchester police officer who pleaded guilty to making and possessing indecent images of children has been sacked.

Thomas Woods was dismissed without notice by Chief Constable Stephen Watson at the misconduct hearing at Force Headquarters on 14 February 2023.

The former officer, who didn't attend the hearing, will also be placed on the College of Policing Barred List.

Woods was a serving police officer in GMP’s Salford district when he was arrested in December 2021.

After receiving information about potential indecent images, officers attended his home address and seized two phones and a laptop.

Following extensive forensic examination, police recovered over 1,000 indecent images, many of which showed sexual acts involving children, over a 10-year period.

Woods made no comment in interview but went on to plead guilty to the offences at court.

He was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on 28 July 2022 for being in possession of Indecent Images of children, making indecent images, possessing prohibited Images of children and possession of extreme pornographic images.

He was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, given a rehabilitation activity requirement, an unpaid work requirement, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and must sign the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years.

He was also ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.

CC Watson said: “It is a very powerful principle that officers should preserve public confidence and the seriousness of the misconduct found in terms of professional behaviour means he has been dismissed without notice.

“Woods has committed very serious criminal offences. His acts were deliberate, unforced and unlawful, and also morally reprehensible.

"He brings the profession into disrepute and damages the confidence the public has in police officers.

"We have to maintain public confidence and this will, of course, diminish that due the level of seriousness.

“Woods’ conduct could not be further removed from what a police officer should be.

"He is a sexual offender and completely forfeited the trust of the public. He will stand perpetually unforgiven by officers and staff whose acts of decency will be tainted.”