Merseyside Police officer due in court charged with misconduct in public office offences

A Merseyside Police officer is due to appear in court next week charged with three counts of misconduct in public office, following a directed Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation.

PC Carl Edwards, 35, has also been charged with two data protection offences, contrary to Section 170 (1) (a) of the Data Protection Act 2018. He is due to appear at Liverpool Magistrates Court on Monday (7 April).

The charges relate to allegations PC Edwards engaged in inappropriate contact with two sex workers while on duty between 1 June 2022 and December 2023 and engaged in inappropriate contact with a child while on duty in December 2023.

He also faces two data protection charges relating to allegations he knowingly unlawfully obtained personal data from a briefing document about organised crime gangs and personal data from a police log without consent during October 2022.

On conclusion of the investigation in April 2024, carried out by Merseyside Police’s Anti-Corruption Unit, under the direction and control of the IOPC Anti-Corruption Unit, a file of evidence was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service, which authorised the charges in February 2025.