Business owner secretly records `bomb-threat` officer`s rant
A police officer suggested bombing Manchesters world-famous Curry Mile to rid the area of “bad people” after finding an electricity meter had been tampered with, a misconduct hearing was told.
Jul 7, 2016
By Nick Hudson
A police officer suggested bombing Manchesters world-famous Curry Mile to rid the area of “bad people” after finding an electricity meter had been tampered with, a misconduct hearing was told.
Police Constable Paul Cocker was secretly recorded losing his temper towards Asian businessman Shakeel Ahmed.
PC Cocker later apologised for his foul-mouthed rant directed at Mr Ahmed, the owner of Choice Jewellers on Wilmslow Road in Rusholme home to more than 70 neon-lit Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian restaurants, takeaways and Shisha lounges.
It was among 200 businesses visited by police, the fire service and Electricity North West in 2013.
The hearing was told many had their electricity supplies disconnected after it was discovered that meters had been doctored or bypassed.
Mr Ahmed recorded the conversation when officers and other officials visited his cellar because of previous visits when the officer was alleged to have been rude and aggressive.
On the audio played at the hearing, PC Cocker can be heard becoming increasingly agitated towards Mr Ahmed, who appears to argue that the meter had been tampered with before he became the owner.
When the owner attempts to counter allegations he siphoned off electricity, PC Cocker tells him no you are not f***ing right, listen.
Later the officer says: Your pants are down and youre getting your a***e smacked.
He then tells the businessman: You are employing illegal immigrants? Correct. You are stealing electricity? Correct. We will see you in court. It doesnt matter (what you say). You make my blood boil.
He accuses the businessman of lying and said: You are as bent as a nine bob note and, laughing, he adds: You want to sack your electrician. Thats all I can say.
Then he told Mr Ahmed: You know what I want to do? Bomb the whole lot from f***ing Upper Lloyd Street to Upper Brook Street, get rid of all these bad people and start afresh.
“Thats you and everybody. You all p*** in the same pot.
PC Cocker has since retired from Greater Manchester Police but his colleague PC Christopher Schofield faces a gross misconduct hearing.
He denies using racist language and failing to act on his fellow officers conduct.
The hearing continues.