Eight officers suspended by Greater Manchester Police over racism accusation

Eight officers have been suspended by Greater Manchester Police following a report of alleged racial discrimination.

GMP announced they had also restricted another officer and referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

The suspensions are not related the incident at Manchester Airport which saw a GMP officer suspended after a video circulated online of a man allegedly being kicked and stamped on the head.

Seven of the suspended officers are from the Bury district, and one is from Rochdale who was working in Bury at the time of the allegations.

The force said it has temporarily relocated officers to Bury to cover operational duties and minimise disruption within the district.

GMP also made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) in relation to both of these cases. The IOPC is investigating the first report and has reviewed and referred the second incident back to Greater Manchester Police to investigate.

The head of GMP’s Professional Standards Directorate, detective chief superintendent Mike Allen, said: “The reports we have received are deeply concerning and I hope to reassure the community of Bury, the wider public, and the GMP workforce that a full and thorough investigation is being conducted into these matters.”

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