PC sacked for texting sex workers on work phone

A Metropolitan Police officer has been sacked for using his work phone to send text messages to escorts and sex workers, sometimes while on duty.

PC Shabul Miah messaged "a large number" of different phone numbers linked to escort workers and sex worker websites between 5 April and 12 October last year, a misconduct panel was told.

He was found to have committed gross misconduct and to have breached the force's standards of professional behaviour through discreditable conduct and failure to follow orders and instructions.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said PC Miah's actions could have led to him "exploiting a vulnerable individual or funding organised crime".

Mr Taylor, chair of the disciplinary panel, said although there was no specific evidence the PC actually procured the services, he believed "it was his intention to do so".

This could also have left the officer at risk of being blackmailed, he said.

PC Miah previously admitted sending the messages but said he did not meet or ever intend to meet any of the sex workers, and that he only chatted to them to distract himself from suicidal thoughts, the panel was told.

No medical evidence was provided by the officer to support his claims.

PC Miah was dismissed without notice at a misconduct hearing in central London and was placed on the College of Policing barred list.

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