Andy Burnham ‘to continue to challenge GMP culture’ as IOPC says officer will face criminal investigation

Andy Burnham says he will continue to ‘challenge GMP to improve the culture’ after meeting with ‘community partners’ in Rochdale.

The mayor was speaking to reporters at his office in Manchester on Friday afternoon (26 July), where protesters had blocked the road less than 24 hours before.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester’s announcement came after the IOPC (Independent Office for Police Conduct) confirmed it would start a criminal investigation against the officer filmed kicking and stamping on the head of the victim, now named as Mohammed Fahid, while he was on the floor at Manchester Airport on Tuesday (23 July).

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Rochdale Police Station earlier this week after footage of the incident went viral.
 

Read more: Hundreds protest at police station after it emerges man in shocking airport footage is from Rochdale Published: 25 July 2024

Akhmed Yakoob, representing the family, revealed that the victim now has a cyst on his brain, confirmed by a CT scan.

The family's solicitor made a public statement outside Rochdale Police Station, emphasising the gravity of his condition, which has “worsened overnight.”

He said: “It was something that hasn’t been seen before, such police brutality.

“I can tell you now that the people who were assaulted by the police are members of a police officer's family who is currently serving in the Greater Manchester Police force.”

He added: “This man is now afraid to go to work. He went in today and spoke to his supervisor. He is fearing for his own safety, as he thinks like his family members were victims, he could be a victim.

“Mohammed Fahid, his medical condition has worsened since last night. A CT scan has revealed there is a cyst on his brain, so please pray for his well being.”

 

 

Mr Burnham called it ‘an intense and difficult week for everybody in Greater Manchester’, which ended with his meeting with the deputy mayor and ‘40 community partners’ in Rochdale.

“People spoke of the family’s appeal for calm – it was echoed in the room, and I am today amplifying that message as loudly and clearly as I can,” he went on. “What they want is a process that is able to proceed of being fair to everyone, rigorous, and has input from Greater Manchester communities. That has got to be the priority now, so the full facts can be established.”

Mr Burnham told reporters today: “Policing is challenging all over the country. Police forces everywhere are facing challenges. They are not unique to Greater Manchester, we have seen disturbances in other places very recently – these have been difficult times for everybody.”

“Police forces have been out there dealing with some of these issues in society, and I want to say I recognise the difficult job that are officers do in Greater Manchester. It’s a really difficult and demanding job – I am not making any comment on the individual situation, I am making a general comment here. It’s hard to be policing communities on the frontline at this moment in time.

“One thing I would say is some of the things you have raised are [known about] because we are challenging GMP to go further to improve the culture in the organisation. That brings some things out into the public domain. We will never say nothing to see here.”
 

Read more: Family request “time to heal” after brutal airport video of police stamping on man’s headPublished: 26 July 2024

There has been no let-up in updates on the fall-out of the incident, with one councillor who attended a Friday morning meeting with GMP top brass saying it should ‘be a watershed moment for the force’. During the same period, the new MP for Rochdale, Paul Waugh called for calm while speaking on behalf of Mr Fahir’s family on BBC Breakfast.

GMP previously stated it was called at 8.25pm on Tuesday evening to an ‘altercation’ between members of the public in Terminal Two, before the officers were subjected to a ‘violent assault’ while trying to make an arrest. Four men were arrested at the scene on suspicion of affray and assault of emergency service workers.

Police said a female officer was left with a broken nose and other officers were taken to hospital. The force also said that there was a risk of the armed officers’ ‘firearms being taken’.

Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry stated on Wednesday night that the video footage ‘shows an event that is truly shocking’ and that people ‘are rightly extremely concerned about’ it. “The use of such force in an arrest is an unusual occurrence and one that we understand creates alarm,” he added.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper issued a statement following talks with GMP and the mayor of Greater Manchester.

She said: "I share the deep concern surrounding the video and understand the widespread distress it will have caused. I welcome the initiation of an independent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct following a referral from Greater Manchester Police.”

"It is essential that the police have the trust of communities and the public rightly expect high standards from those in charge of keeping us safe.”

Ethan Davies, Local Democracy Reporter. Additional reporting: Rochdale Online