Former GMP staff member sentenced for child sex offences following covert operation

Minshull Street Crown Court

A former apprentice for Greater Manchester Police has been sentenced for child sex offences.

Abdul-Bari Shafiq, 21, of Rooley Street, Rochdale, has been sentenced at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty in August of this year to two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual communication.

In October 2020, Shafiq had been engaging in online conversations with what he believed to be a 12-year-old girl.  In fact, he was engaging with a covert police officer.

The offender was employed as an apprentice with GMP's Operation Communications Branch, and was arrested on 29 October 2020 and suspended from duty the following day. His 12 month contract with the force ended on 28 March 2021.

Shafiq was subsequently charged in July 2021 with two counts of inciting a child to engage in sexual communication. He pleaded guilty to the offences on his first appearance at Manchester Magistrates Court on 23 August 2021.

He will now serve a 15 month suspended sentence over two years, has been subjected to a sexual harm prevention order for five years, and will be added to the sex offender's register for five years.

He's also subject to a baring notice, 150 hours unpaid work, and a victim surcharge of £156.
 
The Professional Standards Branch conducted the criminal and disciplinary investigations. Misconduct proceeding will now take place.

Detective Constable Dominic Brady, from GMP's Professional Standards Branch said: "Officers used specialist covert tactics to uncover Mr Shafiq's deplorable crimes, and thankfully were able to intercept him before he caused significant harm.

"We are pleased he is now being held accountable and punished for his crimes and I hope this sends a message to anyone who is committing these crimes that we will seek to track you down and bring you to justice."

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.