Officer Sacked Over Unwanted Images Sent to Woman

A police custody officer, Aqib Ahmed, was sacked by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) after sending unwanted sexual images to a woman he met when she was acting as an appropriate adult for a child suspect. The woman, referred to as Molly, reported feeling a lack of justice because criminal charges were not pursued, despite repeated complaints about Ahmed's behavior, which started in May 2024.

Molly, who supports domestic violence victims, described experiencing sleep difficulties and anxiety due to Ahmed's unsolicited attention. She received explicit images from Ahmed after initially trying to keep their communication brief and uninteresting. Despite reporting him, she claims she was initially dismissed by GMP, only for her complaints to be taken seriously after she contacted journalists and Cheshire Police.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigated and found evidence of Ahmed sending explicit images, though other allegations lacked sufficient proof. A misconduct panel ultimately found Ahmed breached professional standards, leading to his dismissal and prohibition from future policing roles. The IOPC stated his actions abused his position and damaged public confidence.

Molly welcomed Ahmed's dismissal but criticized GMP's delayed response and the Crown Prosecution Service's (CPS) decision not to press charges. The CPS cited a lack of evidence for a realistic conviction, suggesting some messages could be seen as flirtatious, a claim Molly vehemently denied.