Salford police officer sacked after conviction for making and possessing indecent images of children

A Salford police officer has been sacked months after being convicted of making and possessing indecent images of children.

Thomas Woods, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced for the crimes last July, was a serving officer in Greater Manchester Police based in Salford district when arrested.

Police recovered more than 1,000 indecent images, many of which showed sexual acts involving children, over a decade. They were stored on two phones and a laptop seized from his home after a tip-off.

Woods was dismissed without notice by Chief Constable Stephen Watson at the misconduct hearing at Force Headquarters yesterday (Tuesday 14 February 2023).

Ch Const Watson said: “It is a very powerful principle that officers should preserve public confidence and the seriousness of the misconduct found in terms of professional behaviour means he has been dismissed without notice.

“Woods has committed very serious criminal offences. His acts were deliberate, unforced and unlawful, and also morally reprehensible.

“He brings the profession into disrepute and damages the confidence the public has in police officers.

“We have to maintain public confidence and this will, of course, diminish that due to the level of seriousness.

“Woods’ conduct could not be further removed from what a police officer should be.

“He is a sexual offender and completely forfeited the trust of the public. He will stand perpetually unforgiven by officers and staff whose acts of decency will be tainted.”

The former officer, who didn’t attend the hearing, will also be placed on the College of Policing Barred List.

In court Woods had pleaded guilty to being in possession of indecent images of children, making indecent images, possessing prohibited images of children and possession of extreme pornographic images.

He was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court on 28 July 2022 to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for 24 months, given a rehabilitation activity requirement, an unpaid work requirement, a Sexual Harm Prevention Order for five years and put on the Sex Offenders Register for 10 years. He was also ordered to carry out 180 hours of unpaid work.