Former officer banned from policing for repeatedly contacting sex workers

A former officer who repeatedly contacted sex workers while on duty using his work mobile phone has been banned from ever working in the police service.

An accelerated misconduct hearing into the conduct of Toby Knight found his behaviour ‘compromised his position as a police officer’ and put him ‘at risk of corruption’, and that it amounted to gross misconduct.

Detectives from our Anti-Corruption Unit investigated Knight’s behaviour following a direction from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The case was originally referred to the IOPC by our Professional Standards Directorate.

Knight was arrested by officers on 2 April 2024 and during his criminal interview he accepted that he had contacted sex workers while he was on duty and not for a policing purpose.

It was proved that Knight, a former inspector in our City of Manchester district, had contacted sex workers 245 times between September 2018 and February 2024 using his work phone.

It was further established that 165 of those calls occurred when Knight was on duty or booked onto a training course, and a further 11 when he was reported as being sick.

Also during interview, he accepted ‘no other person has any permission to use the phone or has access to it’.

Further analysis of his personal phone found a further 375 contacts with sex workers.

GMP’s case against Knight set out how he was at risk of compromise and corruption as a police officer.

Detective Superintendent Simon Hurst, of GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “Greater Manchester Police are committed to identifying and investigating the actions and behaviours of officers and staff, such as that from former Inspector Toby Knight, who fall below the high standards and expectations we expect from them.

“The detailed investigation into the behaviour and actions of Knight, resulting in today’s proceedings, has led to him being found guilty of gross misconduct and, and had he not retired and still been serving, he would have been sacked.

“Knight will also be placed on the Policing Barred List so as to ensure he doesn’t work in law enforcement again.

“I hope that today’s finding demonstrates GMP’s ongoing assurance to the public that officers and police staff who conduct themselves in such a manner have no place within Policing will be held to account for their actions.”

Chief Resources Officer Lee Rawlinson, who oversaw the hearing at GMP Force Headquarters on 29/5/25, said Knight would have been dismissed without notice had he not already resigned and barred him from policing, meaning he cannot serve in police uniform again.

He said: “Knight has breached the standards of professional behaviour by repeatedly contacting and meeting sex workers.

“The allegations are deemed to amount to gross misconduct due to the nature and duration of the breaches, which are in violation of GMP guidance and Chief Constable’s Orders.

“His actions were deliberate and not appropriate for a police officer, on or off duty, and they placed him at risk of compromise and corruption.

"Sex workers are often vulnerable and Knight's actions undermine the job of a police officer.

Knight, who was not represented and did not attend, retired before the hearing.

In a personal statement read to the hearing, Knight said he had left the force as he had ‘accepted his career would end in ignominy’ and that he now ‘understands how important the role of a police officer is.”

In July 2023, Chief Constable Stephen Watson made an order to all officers that ‘if you use the services of a sex worker then Professional Standards will review your activities and the ultimate outcome may be that you do not serve as an employee of Greater Manchester Police’.