Inspector sacked for contacting sex workers

A former police inspector has been sacked after he said he contacted sex workers for job research, a police hearing has found.

Bedfordshire Police found Mohammed Nasar had committed gross misconduct and his actions were "intentional and deliberate".

The officer, who at the time was responsible for Operation Octans which aimed to tackle Luton's on-street sex trade and safeguarding, previously denied any personal involvement in the use of sex workers and said it was part of operations.

He was suspended, resigned at the end of January and was formally fired at the hearing last month, which was overseen by Assistant Chief Constable Vaughan Lukey.

The force said on 18 August and 5 December 2024 the former neighbourhood policing inspector used his personal phone to contact multiple phone numbers making inquiries about services and prices, when he was not at work.

Phone records showed he travelled to Harrow in north-west London on 18 August and Milton Keynes on 5 December.

Nasar did not attend the hearing and gave no mitigation.

ACC Lukey said he breached the force's standards of honesty and integrity, respect and courtesy.

"Through his engagement with sex workers, he has behaved in a manner which would discredit the police service and result in members of the public losing trust and confidence in the policing profession.

"The officer's actions were intentional and deliberate."

The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said "the use of sex workers is incompatible with the role of a police officer and police staff member".

The NPCC's lead for sex workers, Deputy Chief Constable Dan Vajzovic, said the policy was in place to "protect women and girls from harm and exploitation".

"There is no place in policing for anyone who behaves in this way which poses a serious risk of undermining the public's confidence in policing and our role in keeping vulnerable women safe," he added.

Nasar was placed on the Police Barred List, preventing him from returning to policing or similar professions.

He has the right to appeal, ACC Lukey said.

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