Six GMP officers dismissed following racial discrimination allegations

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

A number of police officers have been dismissed following an internal investigation, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has confirmed.

Following the internal investigation into alleged racial discrimination against an officer on the Bury district – which was launched by GMP‘s Professional Standards Directorate in July 2024 – six officers and two former officers were found to have committed gross misconduct, and a ninth officer was found to have committed misconduct.

The investigation came after a report was made that an officer had been subjected to ‘racist behaviour’ by colleagues in December 2023.

The panel heard how PC Y – who has African heritage and has been granted anonymity – made a complaint after her accent was mimicked by a group of officers. She was also compared to a suspect with similar skin colour, and one of the dismissed PCs made a derogatory comment about her hair.

PC Y was supported and kept updated throughout the investigation, GMP assured, as well as providing evidence at the hearing.

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The misconduct hearing lasted just over two weeks, with the panel concluding that the officers breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour relating to Equality and Diversity, Authority, Respect, and Courtesy.

The six officers who have been dismissed are PC Demi Green, PC Heena Rani, PC Lucy Granby, PC Matthew Barlow, PC Matthew Hill, and PC Mohammed Abid, while the former officers who were found to have committed gross misconduct are PC Jake Holt, and former Officer A – who has been granted anonymity.

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The panel also found that Sergeant Adrian Bick’s actions amounted to misconduct, as there was no  breach of the standard of equality and diversity.

As a result, the six serving officers have been sacked without notice, while the two former officers would have been dismissed had they not already left the force, and Sergeant Bick was issued a written warning.

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“No officer or member of staff should have to come to work and experience discriminatory behaviour from the people they serve alongside,” declared Deputy Chief Constable, Terry Woods.

“Everyone has the right to feel respected, valued and part of the same team with a shared commitment to serving our communities and keeping people safe.”

Featured Image – David Dixon (via Geograph)

Celebrity-loved ‘facial fitness’ brand Facegym is opening in Manchester

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Celebrity-loved 'facial fitness' brand Facegym is opening in Manchester

Facegym, the ‘facial fitness’ brand loved by celebrities, will be opening a brand-new studio in Manchester this month.

Promising ‘facial workouts’, Facegym uses high-intensity hand massage, deep-tissue manipulation, and skin-tightening electronic muscle stimulation to tone and lift the skin.

Facegym’s signature workouts are designed to be energetic, combining massage and movement with techniques intended to stimulate circulation, sculpt the face and leave you with that post-facial glow.

The Signature Sculpt workout, for example, includes a cleanse and warm-up, high-energy movements, sculpting and contouring using gua sha and muscle stimulation, before finishing with skincare and lymphatic drainage.

Basically, it’s a workout, but for your face.

Facegym will be opening its first ever standalone studio in Manchester on King Street this September.

It joins a raft of new openings on the street, including Reformation and American Vintage, with plenty more on the way soon.

The brand has already made a name for itself across London and internationally, with studios in cities including New York, Los Angeles and Sydney, as well as a presence inside Selfridges in Manchester.

Now, Manchester is getting its very own standalone studio on one of the city’s most recognisable shopping streets.

The new King Street studio will be led by franchise partners Minesh and Hoosein, who bring more than two decades of experience across franchising, finance, retail, telecoms and food and drink.

The pair say they were drawn to Facegym because of its innovative take on beauty and wellness, and see Manchester as the perfect city to introduce the concept to a new audience.

The new studio will officially open its doors on 9 September, bringing Facegym’s high-energy approach to facial fitness and wellness to the North West.

And if you want to get involved from day one, Facegym is currently offering a limited Founding Membership for its Manchester launch.

The first 99 members can get a membership for £62 per month, compared with the standard Manchester membership price of £77. The membership includes one workout each month, plus discounts on boosters, additional workouts, skincare and tools.

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Featured image: The Manc Group

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