Police watchdog launches investigation into girl’s declare she was sexually assaulted in custody

The police watchdog has launched an investigation into a girl’s declare she was drugged and sexually assaulted whereas in police custody.

Zayna Iman advised Sky News the incident passed off while she was held by officers from Greater Manchester Police.

CCTV footage exhibits the 38-year-old being carried right into a police cell unconscious and together with her fingers cuffed behind her again.

It seems to point out her being compelled face-down on to a skinny mattress earlier than cops take off her denims, lower off her knickers, pull a pair of outsized custody shorts over her legs after which take away her high and bra earlier than leaving her alone and topless.

“Instead of providing an unconscious female with medical attention they thought: ‘I know let’s take her clothes off instead and leave her there’,” Ms Iman mentioned. “It’s just something that the police do for their own perverse kicks.”

Police arrested Ms Iman within the early hours of 5 February 2021 at her house after she knocked the glasses off a feminine officer’s face. They have been following up on a welfare callout over a girl excessive on cocaine.

Over the subsequent 40 hours or so, Ms Iman – who has waived her proper to anonymity – can be taken to and held at a police station. From that interval, there are three hours of lacking footage which GMP have to this point failed to provide.

Ms Iman’s allegation is supported by her medical data which present proof of sexual accidents.

She has additionally shared her considerations with former GMP chief superintendent Martin Harding, who has seen the obtainable footage and the evident inconsistencies with the custody log, and mentioned her claims are credible.

“I believe she was raped. I believe she was raped by an officer and I believe the organisation is covering it up,” he mentioned.

Watchdog investigating ‘very severe allegations’

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) mentioned they’d obtained two referrals from Greater Manchester Police on Wednesday 26 July 2023 linked to complaints made by the lady concerning her detention by officers at Pendleton Police Station in February 2021.

They mentioned one was a “re-referral of matters we originally received” again in May 2022, whereas one other “contained new allegations regarding the woman’s treatment in custody that had not previously been brought to our attention”.

IOPC regional director Catherine Bates mentioned: “These very serious allegations will have undoubtedly unsettled the local community and the wider public. Their severity raises understandable concern and has the potential to undermine confidence in policing.

“In mild of the brand new info we lately obtained and the numerous media consideration generated, in addition to a request from GMP, we’ve taken the choice that an impartial investigation is required into the allegations.”

Investigation will take a look at ‘nature of interplay’ girl had with police in custody

Ms Bates mentioned the IOPC was “aware of footage of the woman’s detention” and mentioned the investigation “will be thorough and independent of the police”.

She mentioned the investigation “will look at the nature of the interaction the woman had with police while in custody and allow us to understand what happened on the night in question”.