Coverage from both political groupings describes the same central divide: Mohammed Abid denied making a racist remark and disputed his colleague’s account, while the Greater Manchester Police disciplinary panel concluded that her evidence was credible and that a wider culture of mocking her accent had developed.

The case turns on one officer’s denial against findings from a two-week misconduct hearing that portrayed the alleged comment as part of an entrenched workplace problem. The panel dismissed Abid and five serving colleagues without notice; two former officers were also found to have committed gross misconduct.

According to the hearing, Abid was accused of telling a female colleague of African heritage that her braided hair looked “like a mop.” He denied saying it and maintained that the allegation was untrue, telling the panel: “No, I wouldn’t do that.”¹ He also said he had been raised to respect women and could not explain why the officer had made the claim.

The panel took the opposite view. Its chair, Assistant Chief Officer Jonathan Roy, said there was no reason to disbelieve PC Y’s account and found as fact that Abid made the comment. It concluded that, in the context of her race, the remark was racist.²

The hearing also examined conduct beyond the single exchange. PC Y said colleagues copied her speech and laughed, describing the experience as “quite upsetting” and saying it made her feel uncomfortable, nervous and anxious. The panel found a “culture of mocking accents” in the Bury-based unit, concluding that several officers had taken part.

Both accounts report that the six serving officers were barred from policing roles, alongside the two former officers. A ninth officer, Sergeant Adrian Bick, received a final written warning for simple misconduct and kept his job. GMP Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said staff should not face discriminatory behaviour at work and praised the officer who reported the concerns.