An investigation found Carl Edwards “abused his position” for a “sexual purpose”
16:00, 31 Jul 2026Updated 17:57, 31 Jul 2026
Merseyside Police Headquarters(Image: Andrew Teebay/Liverpool Echo)
A Merseyside Police officer has been found guilty of misconduct after propositioning sex workers while on duty, making sexual comments to a “vulnerable” teenage girl and illegally accessing sensitive police information.
PC Carl Edwards, 35, was convicted of three counts of misconduct in public office and two data protection offences following a trial at Chester Crown Court, which concluded on Thursday, July 30. The court heard Edwards, of Sunflower Close in Birkenhead, repeatedly visited an area used by sex workers between June 2022 and December 2023, where he approached women while in uniform and in a marked police vehicle.
An investigation began after a sex worker told police an officer called “Carl” regularly attended the area asking women for “business”. The investigation was carried out by Merseyside Police’s Anti-Corruption Unit under the direction of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Jurors heard that after a sex worker reported being assaulted, Edwards approached the complainant and another woman and offered them £50 for a sexual encounter.
Another woman told investigators Edwards flirted with her while in uniform, asked how much she charged for sex, later turned up unannounced outside her home and would regularly drive past her.
The court also heard that on December 9, 2023, Edwards attended a high-risk missing person incident involving a 17-year-old girl. After the visit, the teenager told a support worker the officer had made her feel uncomfortable by attempting to touch her, offering her his vape and asking if she wanted him to pick her up after he finished work.
She said he showed her pictures of the car he would collect her in and made sexual comments about what he wanted to do with her. Investigators also found Edwards had failed to activate his body-worn camera while he was alone with the vulnerable teenager.
As part of the investigation, officers also uncovered evidence that Edwards had unlawfully accessed police intelligence relating to organised crime groups in October 2022 without any legitimate policing purpose. He was convicted of two data protection offences.
Amanda Rowe, director of engagement at the IOPC, 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.
“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.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Kaur said: “In abusing his position of trust with victims of crimes in pursuit of his own gratification, Edwards behaviour was nothing short of abhorrent.
“It is right that he was suspended as soon as this offending was suspected, in order to protect others from the potential risk he posed, and it is right that he has now been convicted by a jury in court.
“Our Anti-Corruption Unit and Professional Standards Department carried out an extensive investigation into his behaviour, and it is thanks to the evidence they collected that he is today facing the consequences of his appalling actions.
“We will always identify anyone who thinks it is acceptable to behave in this way and do everything within our powers to remove them from our force.
“We have introduced Call It Out and the Crimestoppers Internal Integrity Line, an internal campaign to encourage colleagues to call out behaviour that does not align with our principles. It empowers officers and staff to challenge behaviour in the workplace, as well as providing an avenue to confidentially report behaviour into our Professional Standards Department.
“Here at Merseyside Police, we have thousands of officers and staff who do an exemplary job every day to build that trust in our communities, and it is vital too that they see the robust stance that we will take with the minority who don’t uphold the same strong values.”
Edwards has been suspended from Merseyside Police since his arrest in November 2023. Following the conclusion of the investigation, the IOPC found he has a case to answer for gross misconduct and disciplinary proceedings will now be arranged by the force.
A file of evidence was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service in April 2024, with charges authorised in February 2025.
Edwards is due to be sentenced on October 5.