Paedophile Mark Rosebury of Greater Manchester Police has been incarcerated following an inquiry conducted by our online child abuse investigative unit.
In May 2023, Mark Rosebury, a current member of the Greater Manchester Police, was apprehended at his residence as part of an inquiry into the possession and dissemination of illicit photos involving minors.
Upon searching Mark Rosebury’s residence, law enforcement confiscated numerous devices containing a substantial number of illicit photos depicting minors, leading to his subsequent arrest and formal charges.
Mark Rosebury, aged 38, was sentenced to a term of 18 months in prison earlier this week.
Det Con Aria Powell of the Online Child Abuse Investigation Team said: “It is important to stress that online offending is not a victimless crime. People who view these horrific images are effectively facilitating this type of crime, which affects so many children across the world.
“We have a clear duty to protect members of the public, especially the most vulnerable, and this sentence should send a clear message to offenders that you will be brought to justice – irrespective of who you are, or your position in society.”
UPDATE 301124
In a bizarre statement Greater Manchester Police are keen to let the public know that, Mark Rosebury, the convicted paedophile police officer would have been sacked if he had not already resigned. It is unclear as to how that would be of any solace to the multiple children being tortured and raped in the indecent images he was caught viewing.
Mark Rosebury was found with a total of 525 images – with almost half of the most severe type – when officers seized his devices from his Lancashire home.
The former Greater Manchester Police constable was jailed for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possessing extreme images and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child at Preston Crown Court in September.
Now, following a misconduct hearing, where gross misconduct was proven, police bosses have labelled his crimes as “abhorrent”, adding him to the Royal College of Policing’s Barred List, banning him from ever working in policing again.
Mark Rosebury was arrested after an investigation into the possession and distribution of indecent images of children by Lancashire Police’s online child abuse investigation team in May 2023.
Officers later found 257 Category A images – the most severe form – together with 110 Category B and 158 Category C images, at his home in Bacup.
Chief Resources Officer, Lee Rawlinson, said in his judgement he was “satisfied that the evidence is incontrovertible”.
He said had Mark Rosebury, who was 38 when he was jailed, not have already resigned, he would have been dismissed.
“Mr Mark Rosebury’s conviction, inevitably brings the profession of policing into disrepute and clearly has the potential to damage the trust that the public have a right to expect of their police service,” Mr Rawlinson said.
“I believe the public would view these offences as abhorrent and the victims confidence in the police would be significantly undermined.
“The offence committed by Mr Mark Rosebury and his behaviour was contrary to the most clearly expressed instruction as to the standards required of a well conducted officer.
“In respect of the harm, the harm to the reputation and standing of the service is self-evidently clearly established.”
“Mr Mark Rosebury’s offending behaviour was simply unacceptable. His conduct has carried very grave consequences for him in his life and has led to the termination of his career.
“Police officers must ensure that their professional behaviour is always of an impeccable character and this case is clearly far from that.”
Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, head of Greater Manchester Police’s Professional Standards Directorate, said: “The public rightly expects the highest professional standards from those who serve in the police, and it is clear that the actions of Mark Rosebury fall disgracefully below that.
“Mark Rosebury should be appalled by his crimes and the impact his actions understandably have on the public’s confidence in the overwhelming majority of professional, decent, hard-working officers who serve their communities daily.
“We have assisted our colleagues in Lancashire throughout this case to ensure that Mark Rosebury is brought to justice for his crimes.
“Mark Rosebury remains suspended from the force, and following his imprisonment today, legally, we have been able to stop his pay immediately. A misconduct hearing will now be accelerated since there is no longer a risk to prejudicing criminal proceedings.”
Mark Rosebury, of Earnshaw Road, Bacup, appeared at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday (September 4) for sentence. He had pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children, one count of possessing extreme images, and one count of possessing a prohibited image of a child.
If you or anyone you know have been affected by the people highlighted in this article, then please report those individuals to the Police on 101 (999 if an emergency) or visit their online resources for further details of the options for reporting a crime. You can also make a report at Crimestoppers should you wish to be completely anonymous. There is help available on our support links page.