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Former GMP Inspector sacked after dishonestly working at 2022 World Cup during ‘career break’

Tariq Butt was dismissed following a three-day hearing with a disciplinary panel.

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 23rd September 2024

A former Manchester police Inspector has been sacked after he dishonestly worked at the 2022 World Cup during a so-called ‘career break’.

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed that, Tariq Butt – who was based at the force’s Sedgley Park Training Centre in Prestwich – was officially barred from policing last week following an investigation conducted by the Anti-Corruption Unit, directed by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)

Mr Butt was sacked last Thursday (19 September) following a three-day hearing with a disciplinary panel led by a legally-qualified chair.

The hearing was told that, in 2022, Inspector Butt had applied for a three-year career break from the police force, stating that he would not be working and would be financially supported by his family during this time, but GMP’s dedicated unit for professional standards then received information that he had taken on a role as a contracted security advisor for the Qatari police around the time of the 2022 World Cup.

Following this, GMP then referred to the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) to direct the investigation.

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A former GMP Inspector has been sacked after dishonestly working at the 2022 World Cup during a ‘career break’ / Credit: David Dixon (via Geograph)

The disciplinary panel concluded that Inspector Butt would have been dismissed from GMP had he not already resigned from the force.

Following the sacking of Inspector Butt, Detective Superintendent Steve Keeley, of GMP’s Anti-Corruption Unit, said: “It is clear that the actions of Tariq Butt demonstrated a complete disregard for the values of honesty and trust that we and the public rightly expect of our officers.

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“He blatantly breached these values for his own personal gain and left the panel no option but to dismiss him from the force.

“If we cannot trust his actions, then we certainly cannot expect the public to do so either.”

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DS Keeley concluded: “The discreditable conduct of officers like Butt undermine the professionalism and hard work of thousands of officers across Greater Manchester every day, and we will continue to leave no stone unturned in pursuing  those who breach our standards.”

Featured Image – GMP

News

Iconic Oxford Road pub The Footage has gone up for sale – and wait until you hear for how much

Danny Jones Danny Jones The Footage pub Manchester up for sale for just £1

Beloved Manchester bar and once regular student stomping ground The Footage has officially been up for sale and it’s fair to say we had to double-take when saw for how much.

The iconic Oxford Road pub quietly closed its doors back in May after more than 30 years under various different names – but it’s always been The Footage to us.

It was one of the most popular pubs on the busy student strip for generations of uni cohorts and, as we’re sure many a Manc gig-goer would vouch for, a great place for pints beforehand.

However, not only the place is vacant but it’s now been put on the market for a bigger bargain than you’d find at Poundland. No, seriously…

The Footage is now up for sale on Rightmove. (Credit: The Manc Group)

No, we’re not pulling your leg: Manchester’s once well-trodden and ever-busy The Footage is now listed on Rightmove for just £1.

A quid, for a whole building and all that potential on none other than Oxford Road, one of Manchester’s most prime real estate areas.

It might sound daft at first but it’s actually not too unheard of nowadays and properties like these can often be listed for such a small amount either to help others get on the ladder, support local businesses and industry markets, as well as make sure a site’s heritage can be not just kept intact but carried on.

As the former cinema house and theatre is a Grade II-listed building, built in 1912 and set over two sizeable storeys (plus, it really is gorgeous), everyone involved has a vested interest in making sure it doesn’t get left to just sit there and go to waste.

However, take that price point with a decent pinch of salt because it isn’t just about purchasing the plot but also getting the place up to scratch, and in terms of business rates the value according to Rightmove is “£41,250 with effect from April 2023”.

Credit: The Manc Group/The Footage (via Facebook)

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The listing goes on to add that “confirmation of actual business rates payable should be obtained from the local authority” but it still presents a big opportunity for someone to take over the roomy spot.

Although there is scope to do a lot with the place, the substantial basement area with two large beer cellars and a number of smaller storage rooms means it’s likely to become another bar or maybe just snapped up by a bar group.

Once again, particulars like the current energy rating are still to be fully certified but whoever does take a chance on buying it for just the price of a decent pick-and-mix with have access to a license that allows for trading between 10am-2am, Monday to Saturday and until 1am on Sunday.

We sincerely hope The Footage doesn’t stay up for sale too long and that somebody rolls the dice with the beautiful building – at that kind of price you’d be a fool not to. It’s not the only longstanding local favourite that’s gone up for sale either.

Legendary Manchester rice and three curry house Cafe Marhaba has gone up for sale

Featured Images — The Manc Group

News

Legendary Manchester rice and three curry house Cafe Marhaba has gone up for sale

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Legendary Manchester rice and three curry house Cafe Marhaba has gone up for sale

It’s been a staple of Mancunian lunchtimes for decades, but now Cafe Marhaba has been placed up for sale.

The Back Piccadilly restaurant and takeaway is one of the city’s most legendary rice and three cafes, serving up hearty curries and tandoor-baked naans at low, low prices.

It’s a family-run operation that’s been here in the Northern Quarter since 1992 – so it’s understandable that a wave of panic has rippled through the city upon seeing the business appear on Rightmove.

Cafe Marhaba has been listed as a ‘highly sought after takeaway business’ in a ‘top location’.

Agents have placed it on the market at £1,153 per calendar month.

But Abdul Ahmed, who runs the business alongside his parents, has confirmed to The Manc that they are simply ‘testing the waters’ and thinking of shifting the beloved business to a new premises.

The tiny space, just down the road from the newly-reborn Rat and Pigeon pub, only has space for a handful of tables for dine-in customers.

Inside Cafe Marhaba in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside Cafe Marhaba in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside Cafe Marhaba in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group
Inside Cafe Marhaba in Manchester. Credit: The Manc Group

If you do sit in, curries are carefully ladled onto patterned mismatched plates and served alongside the city’s best naan breads.

Cafe Marhaba is particularly well-known for its £8 rice and three deal – a local staple – where you can choose any three curries for a filling lunch.

At the time of writing, Abdul stressed that there are no plans to close the restaurant for the time being.

So you can still get your rice and three fix at this Manchester institution – and if you miss it, you’ll forever regret it.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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