A police officer has been sacked for soliciting a sex worker while he stayed in London accommodation funded by the British Transport Police during a training course.
PC Adam Abdur-Rehman sought the services of a sex worker while attending the course between February 12 and 17 last year.
A misconduct hearing heard how Abdur-Rehman searched for sex services on his phone on February 15 and then texted a sex worker to arrange to meet.
The information came to light when his phone was seized after a colleague made a separate allegation about his conduct.
Abdur-Rehman admitted at the hearing that his actions amounted to misconduct, but denied gross misconduct.
He had served with the force in Preston since 2021.
Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi, who chaired he hearing, said: “The actions of PC Abdur-Rehman are inconsistent with the commitment of policing to address violence against women and girls. To engage in activity which may be linked with the sexual exploitation of women is totally unacceptable.
“His actions were not a momentary lapse of judgement made in the heat of the moment as claimed. PC Abdur-Rehman knew exactly what he was doing and there is no place in British Transport Police for him.
“His actions undermine public trust and confidence in policing and are totally unreflective of values of British Transport Police and the hard work and determination of those within it to protect the public.”
She added: “Sex work can have an inherent risk of vulnerability and it is commonly linked to organised crime. As police officers it is our duty to protect those most vulnerable in our society, not exploit them for our own personal gratification.
“I am appalled by PC Abdur-Rehman’s actions. We expect our officers to uphold the highest standards of professional behaviour and this is a shocking and abhorrent breach of those standards.”
Abdur-Rehman was dismissed after the panel found him guilty of gross misconduct.
