Mohammed Fahir Amaaz jailed; brother PC Abid sacked by GMP 2026

Key Points

• Mohammed Fahir Amaaz is currently in prison after being convicted of assault on two GMP policewomen at Manchester Airport in July 2024.
• Amaaz was given a sentence of three and a half years in prison earlier in the year after being found guilty of punching PCs Lydia Ward and Ellie Cook several times.
• His older brother, PC Mohammed Abid, has been sacked from GMP for gross misconduct after the disciplinary panel found that he had called the hair of his female colleague “looking like a mop” and had been a part of a racial discrimination against her with seven other colleagues.
• In addition, it was found that the officer had also mocked the accent of his female colleague referred to as “PC Y”.
• Six officers have been sacked from their jobs without notice; two former officers were found guilty of gross misconduct and would have been sacked had they not been out of service.
• Sgt Adrian Bick has got a written warning as he was found guilty of misconduct but not gross misconduct.
• Abid had provided good character witness for his younger brother on his trials, stating that he is a very respectful man and gentle too.
• Deputy Chief Constable

Manchester Police (Manchester Mirror) September 07, 2026 — Mohammed Fahir Amaaz is in jail for punching female cops at Manchester Airport while his police officer brother Mohammed Abid has been sacked in disgrace by GMP, in a double blow to the Rochdale family that had previously portrayed itself as victims of police misconduct. — The developments follow Amaaz’s conviction and sentencing earlier this year for assaulting two female officers, and a separate GMP disciplinary hearing that concluded on Monday with the dismissal of PC Mohammed Abid and five other serving officers for gross misconduct linked to racist behaviour towards a colleague.

What happened at Manchester Airport and what was Amaaz convicted of?

Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21, from Rochdale, was convicted at Liverpool Crown Court of three separate counts of assault arising from an incident at Manchester Airport on 23 July 2024. Officers were initially dispatched after Amaaz headbutted a man inside Terminal 2, and during the subsequent arrest attempt he repeatedly punched PCs Lydia Ward and Ellie Cook, with PC Cook suffering a broken nose.

As reported by the Manchester Evening News, Amaaz was found guilty by a jury last year and was sentenced earlier this year to three-and-a-half years in prison for the assaults on the two female officers. Footage from the scene showed a violent struggle, and while another brother, Muhammad Amaad, 26, faced charges relating to an armed officer, PC Zachary Marsden, two juries failed to reach verdicts and prosecutors opted not to seek a third trial, resulting in Amaad’s acquittal on that charge. Amaaz was also acquitted of the charge relating to PC Marsden, but remains in custody serving his sentence for the assaults on PCs Ward and Cook.

Who is PC Mohammed Abid and what did the GMP disciplinary panel find?

PC Mohammed Abid, 29, based at Bury police station, is the elder brother of Mohammed Fahir Amaaz and had previously attended court to support his sibling, describing himself as a “role model” within a close-knit family. During Amaaz’s trials, Abid gave character evidence, telling the jury: “From a very young age, Fahir has been known for his respectful, gentle, and soft-spoken nature… He has always looked up to me as a role model.”

That narrative has now collapsed after a two-week GMP disciplinary hearing concluded that Abid and seven other officers committed gross misconduct in relation to the treatment of a female colleague of African heritage, referred to as “PC Y”. As reported by Paul Burnell of the BBC, the panel heard that PC Y complained after her accent was mimicked by a group of officers, she was compared to a suspect with similar skin colour, and one officer made a derogatory comment about her hair. The Manchester Evening News reported that the panel determined Abid made a racist remark towards PC Y, smirking and walking away after claiming her hair resembled a “mop”.

Assistant Chief Officer Jonathan Roy, who chaired the panel, noted a prevailing “culture of mocking accents” within the Bury district and said the panel relied on PC Y’s account, finding no reason to disbelieve her. Abid denied the allegations, insisting he would not comment on the appearance of an older woman and claiming he was the victim of discrimination rather than PC Y, but the panel rejected his denials and concluded PC Y was a “clear victim of bullying”.

Which officers were sacked and what sanctions were imposed?

The disciplinary panel found that the actions of PC Mohammed Abid, PC Demi Green, PC Heena Rani, PC Lucy Granby, PC Matthew Barlow, PC Matthew Hill, former PC Jake Holt and a former officer granted anonymity (Officer A) amounted to gross misconduct. Six serving officers — Abid, Green, Rani, Granby, Barlow and Hill — were dismissed without notice. The two former officers, Holt and Officer A, were told they would have been sacked had they not already left the force, and their names have been added to the College of Policing’s barred list, preventing them from returning to any policing role in England and Wales.

Sgt Adrian Bick was found guilty of misconduct, but not gross misconduct, as the panel determined there was no breach of the equality and diversity standard in his case; he received a final written warning. According to the Manchester Evening News, Bick’s misconduct related to comparing a suspect’s picture to PC Y.

What did GMP leadership say about the dismissals?

Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said:

“No officer or member of staff should have to come to work and experience discriminatory behaviour from the people they serve alongside.” He added:

“I would like to acknowledge the courage of the officer who came forward and reported these concerns. It is important that people have the confidence to speak up, knowing they will be listened to and supported.”

Woods also said that since the investigation began, the Bury district had worked with officers, staff and community representatives to address concerns and ensure GMP remains a service that diverse communities can identify with.

How does this connect to the wider Manchester Airport incident narrative?

The Amaaz brothers’ case attracted widespread attention after footage circulated showing a police officer kicking Mohammed Fahir Amaaz in the face after he had been subdued by a Taser. That imagery fuelled accusations of police racism and claims of two-tier justice, even as Amaaz was later convicted of assaulting two female officers. The family had previously portrayed themselves as blameless victims of police brutality, but the combination of Amaaz’s jail sentence and Abid’s dismissal for racist misconduct has dramatically altered that public narrative.

As reported by the Manchester Evening News, another sibling, Muhammad Amaad, stood beside Amaaz in court facing charges of violence but was ultimately exonerated when two juries failed to reach a verdict and prosecutors declined a third trial. The outcome leaves Mohammed Fahir Amaaz incarcerated until next year for assaulting the two female officers, while his police officer brother has been removed from the force following the upheld allegation of racist misconduct.

Background: How did this development unfold over time?

The sequence began with the 23 July 2024 altercation at Manchester Airport, when officers were called after Amaaz headbutted a passenger in Terminal 2. During the arrest attempt, Amaaz assaulted PCs Ward and Cook, leading to criminal charges and, subsequently, a conviction and a three-and-a-half-year sentence imposed earlier in 2026. Parallel to the criminal proceedings, internal GMP processes examined complaints of discriminatory behaviour within the Bury district, culminating in a two-week disciplinary hearing that concluded in early September 2026 with the dismissal of six officers and findings of gross misconduct against two former officers. The overlap between the family’s public stance during the criminal trials and the later misconduct findings against PC Abid has intensified scrutiny of the case.

Prediction: How could this affect public trust and GMP recruitment?

This development is likely to affect public trust in GMP, particularly among communities concerned about racism within policing, as well as potential recruits evaluating the force’s culture. The dismissal of multiple officers for gross misconduct signals accountability, which may reassure some stakeholders that complaints are taken seriously. However, the high-profile nature of the case, combined with the earlier Manchester Airport footage and the family’s prior claims of victimhood, could deepen scepticism among those who already question police conduct. For recruitment, the outcome may deter some applicants wary of association with a force under intense scrutiny, while others may view the decisive sanctions as evidence of a commitment to reform.