Former Salford police officer dismissed for improper relationship with vulnerable woman

• Former officer Paul Banks dismissed from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) for carrying out an “improper relationship” with a vulnerable woman
• Banks accessed the email account of the woman and viewed explicit images and videos over 200 times
• Banks will not work as a police officer again after he was was dismissed without notice and placed on the College of Policing barred list

A Salford police officer has been sacked from Greater Manchester Police for carrying out an “improper relationship” with a vulnerable woman.

Paul Banks appeared before a Gross Misconduct Hearing last week. The hearing was told that Banks accessed the email account of a vulnerable woman.

Investigations found that he had viewed the woman’s explicit images and videos over 200 times though accessing an email account he advised her to set up. His actions were uncovered by Bank’s colleagues officers who reported him to the force’s professional standards branch (PSB). 

Detective Chief Superintendent ,Michael Allen, head of GMP’s professional standards, condemned Banks’ behaviour as “egregiously wrong.”

He said Banks had “abused his position of trust” and that his actions “dishonoured policing” and “undermined the principled endeavours of his colleagues” .

Banks was been dismissed from GMP without notice and placed on the College of Policing barred list. 

DCI Allen thanked the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for conducting an “investigation that left no stone unturned”.