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A Merseyside Police officer who propositioned sex workers while on duty has been found guilty of misconduct in public office and data protection offences following an investigation directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).   

Chester Crown Court also heard how PC Carl Edwards, 37, made inappropriate comments – sometimes sexual – to a vulnerable child and illegally obtained sensitive police information about organised crime gangs without a policing purpose. 

The investigation, carried out by Merseyside Police’s Anti-Corruption Unit under the direction of the IOPC’s Anti-Corruption Unit, began after a sex worker disclosed to police that an officer named ‘Carl’ regularly attended an area frequented by sex workers and he had asked her for ‘business’.

Following a trial, which concluded yesterday (30 July), PC Edwards was found guilty of three counts of misconduct in public office and two data protection offences.

IOPC Director of Engagement Amanda Rowe said: 

“The offending by PC Edwards was a deliberate and prolonged pattern of criminal behaviour which seemed to only escalate over time and culminated with his abhorrent actions when visiting a vulnerable girl who would have undoubtedly placed trust in him at the time. 

“When a police officer abuses their position for a sexual purpose, this is a form of corruption – and it has absolutely no place in policing. This was a profound breach of the trust placed in him by both the public and the force. Today’s sentencing sends a clear message. 

“We are incredibly grateful to the brave women and girl who came forward to speak out against his unacceptable behaviour and helped uncover further offending which may otherwise have gone unreported. Nobody should ever be made to feel uncomfortable and unable to challenge a person’s behaviour just because of their job.” 

The investigation found evidence PC Edwards had inappropriate contact with two sex workers while on duty between 1 June 2022 and December 2023. On one occasion, following a report a sex worker had been assaulted, he approached the complainant and another woman and offered £50 for a sexual encounter. 

Another sex worker in the Liverpool area separately reported that PC Edwards had been in uniform and in a marked police vehicle when started flirting and asked her how much she charged. She told investigators he turned up unannounced outside her property and would often pass her on the street. 

On 9 December 2023, PC Edwards responded to a high-risk missing person call which involving a 17-year-old girl. Following the visit, the girl told a support worker how he had made her feel uncomfortable by attempting to touch her, offering his vape to her and asking if she wanted him to pick her up once he finished work. 

PC Edwards did not have his body worn video footage activated while alone with the child. She also reported that he showed her pictures of the car he would pick her up in and made comments about what he wanted to do sexually with her. 

PC Edwards was also found guilty of breaching data protection regulations in October 2022 when he viewed a log concerning organised crime gang members and a briefing document regarding the same members, for which he had no policing purpose to do so on both occasions. 

On conclusion of the investigation in April 2024, a file of evidence was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised the charges in February 2025. 

He is due to be sentence on 5 October.

Following the investigation, we found PC Edwards, who has been suspended from the force since his arrest in November 2023, had a case to answer for gross misconduct and the force will now arrange for disciplinary proceedings to take place.