Great Manchester (Parliament Politics Magzine) – Mayor Andy Burnham states he will continue to ‘challenge Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to strengthen the culture’ following a week of inadequate press for the police force.
What Are the Latest Developments in the GMP Controversy?
The mayor was talking to journalists at his office on Oxford Street, where protesters had jammed the road less than 24 hours before. It followed a demonstration outside Rochdale Police Station, where Muhammad Fahir is from.
The Mayor of Greater Manchester’s statement came after the IOPC confirmed it would begin a criminal investigation against the officer filmed booting and stamping on Mr Fahir while he was on the floor at Manchester Airport. Footage of the happening came to light less than a week after the Baird Review was publicised, which found GMP regaled some women in custody ‘like meat’.
What Did Burnham Say About Policing Challenges in Greater Manchester?
“Policing is challenging all over the nation. Police forces everywhere are meeting challenges. They are not unique to Greater Manchester, we have seen disruptions in other places very recently — these have been challenging times for everybody,” Mr Burnham stated. “Police forces have been out there negotiating with some of these issues in society, and I want to state I recognise the challenging job that officers do in Greater Manchester. It’s a really difficult and arduous job — I am not making any comment on the individual situation, I am making a general statement here. It’s hard to be policing communities on the frontline at this moment in time.
“One thing I would state is some of the things you have presented are [known about] because we are challenging GMP to go additionally to improve the culture in the organisation. That brings some things out into the public environment. We will never articulate anything to see here.”Mr Burnham anointed it ‘an intense and challenging week for everybody in Greater Manchester’, which ended with his discussion with the deputy mayor and ‘40 community partners’ in Rochdale
Why Is Burnham Urging for Calm and Transparency?
“People expressed the family’s appeal for calm — it was reflected in the room, and I am today amplifying that message as loudly and clearly as I can,” he went on. “What they desire is a process that can proceed of being honest to everyone, rigorous, and has input from Greater Manchester residents. That has got to be the priority now, so the full truths can be established.”
What Was the Reaction of Rochdale MP Paul Waugh?
There has been no let-up in updates on the fall-out of the happening, with one councillor who followed a meeting with GMP top brass stating it should ‘be a watershed point for the force’. During the same period, new Rochdale MP Paul Waugh urged for calm while talking on behalf of Mr Fahir’s family on BBC Breakfast.
How Is GMP Responding to Recent Allegations and Incidents?
Police stated a female officer was left with a broken nose and other officers were taken to hospital. The force also stated that there was a risk of the armed officers ‘firearms being taken’.
Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said that the video footage ‘shows an occasion that is truly shocking’ and that people ‘are rightly extremely concerned about’ it. “The usage of such force in an arrest is an unusual event and one that we understand creates alarm,” he said.