Mark Rosebury

A serving police officer from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has been imprisoned after authorities discovered hundreds of indecent images of children on devices seized from his home. Mark Rosebury, aged 38 and residing in Bacup, Lancashire, was arrested in May 2023 as part of an investigation into the possession and distribution of such material.

The investigation, led by GMP's online child abuse investigation team, uncovered a significant collection of illegal content on Rosebury's electronic devices. He admitted to three counts of making indecent images of children, possessing extreme images, and possessing a prohibited image of a child. Following his guilty plea, Rosebury was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment at Preston Crown Court. The court proceedings highlighted the severity of the offences, with Detective Constable Aria Powell emphasising that 'online offending is not a victimless crime' and that viewing such images facilitates harm to children worldwide.

Det Ch Supt Mike Allen, head of GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, condemned Rosebury's actions, stating: '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. He should be appalled by his crimes and the impact his actions understandably have on the public’s confidence in the overwhelming majority of officers who are professional, decent, hard-working people who serve their communities day-in, day-out.'

Rosebury, who lived on Earnshaw Road in Bacup, remains suspended from the force. Following his sentencing, his pay was stopped with immediate effect, and a misconduct hearing has been accelerated to address his professional conduct without risking prejudice to the criminal case. This incident underscores GMP's commitment to upholding standards and protecting vulnerable individuals, as Powell noted: 'We have a clear duty to protect members of the public, and 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.'

The case was reported by BBC News on 6 September 2024, drawing attention to the betrayal of public trust by a law enforcement officer involved in child exploitation material.