Health and Care Professions Council determination — substantive hearing
HCPTS strikes off Salman Rafi after child sexual offence convictions
An HCPTS panel struck off operating department practitioner Salman Rafi after finding his fitness to practise impaired following convictions involving the attempted grooming of a child.
MedicWatch editorial · Published 1 November 2024 · Updated 23 September 2026
Erasure (struck off the register)
Data last checked: 23 September 2026Report a correction
What does “struck off the register” mean?
The regulator directed removal from the register in this decision. The decision explains when the direction takes effect and any appeal provisions. Check the official register for the practitioner's current registration status.
Concerning Salman Rafi, operating department practitioner (Health and Care Professions Council ODP38814).
Decision date: 1 November 2024 · Hearing started 1 November 2024
In plain English
The HCPTS panel found Salman Rafi's fitness to practise impaired following convictions for attempting sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a child after grooming. It found a real risk of repetition, struck him off the register and imposed an interim suspension during the appeal period.
Charges
Salman Rafi was convicted at Leeds Crown Court of attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child and attempting to meet a girl under 16 following grooming. The allegation was that his fitness to practise was impaired by reason of those convictions.
Findings
The panel found the convictions proved and found Salman Rafi's fitness to practise impaired on public protection and public interest grounds. It found virtually no insight, little understanding of the seriousness of the convictions, a real risk of repetition and incomplete rehabilitation. It directed that his name be struck off the register and imposed an interim suspension order for up to 18 months pending the appeal period.
Mitigating and aggravating factors
Aggravating factors
predatory behaviour, targeting a 12-year-old child; the Registrant is subject to a live sentence; the Registrant is on the Sex Offender’s Register for many years; a complete lack of any meaningful insight or remediation; behaviour that actively undermined the profession.
Source
All facts on this page are drawn from the publicly published Health and Care Professions Council determination linked below. MedicWatch does not editorialise the regulator’s findings.
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