Preston police officer dismissed after seeking the services of a sex worker

A British Transport Police (BTP) Constable has been dismissed following an Accelerated Misconduct Hearing for gross misconduct after seeking the services of a sex worker during a training course.

PC Adam Abdur-Rehman was present at the hearing, chaired by Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi on Thursday 7 March at the force’s Headquarters in Camden.

Between 12 and 17 February 2023 PC Abdur-Rehman attended a British Transport Police training course in London where he stayed in accommodation paid for by the force.

On 15 February, he searched for sex services on his phone and then texted a sex worker to arrange for sexual services. The information came to light after his phone was seized following a separate allegation from a colleague regarding his conduct.

PC Abdur-Rehman, admitted at the hearing that his actions amounted to misconduct but denied gross misconduct. He had been a serving police officer with BTP since 2021 and was based at Preston. 

Chief Constable Lucy D’Orsi 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.

“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-Redman’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.”