News
The police investigation dedicated to identify online racists
Four arrests have been made since the conclusion of Euro 2020 - with three England players racially abused after the final.
Police have launched a nationwide investigation to identify hate crime perpetrators following the torrent of abuse directed at England players following Euro 2020.
Three of England’s players – Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho – were all subjected to racist attacks online after missing penalties during the tournament final at Wembley on Sunday evening.
The UK Football Policing Unit (UKFPU) has since assigned a dedicated team to work through a “large number” of reports made by local forces, charities and football clubs relating to these incidents.
Investigators are also collaborating with social media companies including Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to pinpoint the culprits.
Four arrests have been made by local police forces so far as a result of the investigation.
Rashford’s mural in Withington was also defaced following the final – but was quickly repaired and has since become the heartwarming home of hundreds of supportive messages.
In the House of Commons this week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged tougher penalties for those found guilty of racist abuse – claiming Football Banning Orders would be amended to keep perpetrators out of stadiums for at least a decade.
The PM also said that tech firms would be fined for failing to stop “vile behaviour”.
Chief Constable Mark Roberts, National Police Chiefs’ Council Football Policing Lead, stated: “The racial abuse aimed at our own players following Sunday night’s game is utterly vile and has quite rightly shocked and appalled people across the country.
“Our England team have been true role models during the tournament, conducting themselves with professionalism and dignity. I’m disgusted there are individuals out there who think it’s acceptable to direct such abhorrent abuse at them, or at anybody else.
“The UKFPU investigation is well underway and work continues to identify those responsible. We are working very closely with social media platforms, who are providing data we need to progress enquiries.
Roberts also issued a warning: “If we identify that you are behind this crime, we will track you down and you will face the serious consequences of your shameful actions.”
Police saw a “significant increase” of criminal incidents throughout Euro 2020 compared to previous tournaments.
Up to July 13, 897 football-related incidents and 264 arrests had been recorded across the country in the 24-hour period surrounding the final.
At the time of writing, the total number of football-related incidents during the tournament currently stands at 2,344, with 630 arrests.
Featured image: Alex James
News
Beloved Manchester artist Stanley Chow slams Conservative Party for using his artwork
Daisy Jackson
Celebrated local artist Stanley Chow has lashed out at the Conservative Party.
The illustrator, who is famed for his cartoon portraits of famous faces, has discovered that the political party have been using his Andy Burnham illustration at their party conference.
Publicly addressing the usage, Stanley said he would be ‘seeking legal advice’.
He shared a photo of his Andy Burnham portrait that has been placed onto a water bottle with the slogan ‘Bottler Burnham’.
The label also says: “0% strength. Bottled under pressure from Badenoch.”
In another photo, Stanley Chow revealed that the Tory party conference has used his Andy Burnham portrait on pots of sweets, too.
This time, they say: “Andy Panders’ people pleaser pick n mix. Free sweets for everyone, it will only cost you higher taxes.”
Stanley wrote: “It seems like @conservatives have been using my artwork without my permission at their conference party…
“Regardless of whatever your political allegiances are, it’s still copyright infringement… I’ll be seeking legal advice.”
Backing him up in the comments are a number of other local artists, including Mancsy, who said: “As well as the copyright infringement, I expect more of political parties than making gags at the expense of the opposition. It’s alarming on multiple levels.”
Someone else wrote: “Imagine calling a prime minister a people pleaser like it’s an insult… when it’s their job.”
Another person said: “How does that even happen?! Layers of people signing off who go, ‘Sure, let’s not worry about copyright’ (people who’ve presumably never step foot in MCR and seen your artwork, like EVERYWHERE). Drag em, babe. Copyright and reputation, surely.”
Read more
Featured image: The Manc Group
News
Manchester man jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of woman on train
Emily Sergeant
A man has been jailed after sexually assaulting and masturbating in front of a woman on board a train to Manchester.
Following an extensive British Transport Police (BTP) investigation, Nisan Fernando Kurukulasuriya, of Troutbeck Road in Altrincham, was sentenced at Manchester Crown Court last month.
At the trail last month, the court heard how, on Monday 20 April 2026, 39-year-old Kurukulasuriya was on a train from Stoke to Manchester and sat next to a woman he didn’t know, who was on the phone.
He then sexually assaulted her repeatedly, doing so again even after being pushed away by the woman.
The woman then noticed that Kurukulasuriya had exposed himself and was masturbating in front of her. She shouted at him, and in response, he stood up and ran away to leave the train – but the woman immediately got up to report the incident to staff.
When the train arrived at Manchester Piccadilly, the woman alerted a member of staff while Kurukulasuriya was stood only a few meters away, and BTP were subsequently called straight away.
Police quickly attended and arrested Kurukulasuriya.
When police interviewed him, Kurukulasuriya showed no remorse for his actions and refused to answer any questions put to him.
After pleading guilty to Sexual Assault and Outraging Public Decency at a previous court hearing, Kurukulasuriya was sentenced to eight months’ imprisonment, and was also handed a 10-year Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) which will bar him from sitting next to any woman he doesn’t know on public transport, as well as being put on thensex offenders register for 10 years.
Read more:
BTP Detective Sergeant, Mark Haviland, called Kurukulasuriya a ‘despicable man’ who targeted a woman travelling alone ‘for his own sick sexual gratification’.
Featured Image – BTP
The Manc -
15th July 2021 
