Two Greater Manchester Police officers have been forced out of the force after misconduct hearings revealed they had repeatedly contacted sex workers while off duty. The cases, heard last week, mark the latest in a series of internal investigations by GMP’s anti‑corruption unit. For residents of Oldham and across the region, the revelations are likely to deepen concerns about standards of behaviour within the force.

Former sergeant Mr Keir – whose full name has not been released by GMP – admitted contacting adult sex workers 142 times for non‑policing purposes between February 2019 and August 2024. He resigned the day before his accelerated misconduct hearing on June 4, but chair Lee Rawlinson MBE said he would have been dismissed had he not already left. Mr Rawlinson described the former officer’s behaviour as “totally unacceptable and not befitting of a police officer”, adding that it “inevitably bring[s] the profession into disrepute and undoubtedly damages the trust that the public have a right to expect”.

In a separate hearing the following day, serving police constable Kabir Hayat was dismissed after contacting six sex workers 52 times in a single day – June 4, 2022. Although PC Hayat told the hearing he had no memory of the events, he accepted that his actions amounted to gross misconduct. Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson, who chaired the hearing, said the officer’s conduct was “deliberate and unforced” and that he must have been fully aware of the nature of the advertisements he was responding to. Sir Stephen called the behaviour “reprehensible, and morally indefensible”.

Both cases are part of a wider push by GMP to identify and remove officers who compromise the force’s integrity. The anti‑corruption unit has been examining improper contact with sex workers, which is considered especially serious because of the vulnerability of those involved and the potential links to wider criminality. In Mr Keir’s case, phone records showed “regular and repeated” contact with known sex workers. The hearing noted that his behaviour continued even after he should have realised it was improper, and that his culpability was “very high”.

For Oldham, where GMP provides policing, the cases serve as a reminder that public trust can be damaged by the actions of a few. The chief officers in both hearings stressed that police officers are held to a higher standard, even when off duty. “Police officers are expected to behave in a manner that does not discredit the police service or undermine public confidence whether they are on or off duty,” Mr Rawlinson said.

PC Hayat, who was represented by the Police Federation, admitted the facts but claimed he could not remember the day in question. Sir Stephen dismissed that defence, stating there was “no doubt” that PC Hayat retained the capacity to research and contact the sex workers. He concluded that the officer’s conduct was deliberate, repeated, and “patently not appropriate”.

Both men are now off the force – Mr Keir through resignation, PC Hayat through dismissal. Their names will be added to the College of Policing’s barred list, preventing them from working in law enforcement again. GMP has said it will continue to investigate any officer whose behaviour falls below the standards the public expects. For communities in Oldham, these hearings send a clear message that the force is prepared to act against corruption, even if the damage to trust will take time to repair.