Greater Manchester Police faces watchdog after Zayna Iman ‘left topless in cell’ amid claim she was ‘sexually assaulted’
A POLICE force has referred itself to the independent watchdog after a woman claimed she was “left topless and sexually assaulted” in custody.
Zayna Iman has waived her anonymity to speak out against Greater Manchester Police after a 40-hour ordeal in the city’s main station.
She is now demanding answers about what happened to her as well as access to three hours of video footage that is allegedly missing – and has been backed by a former senior officer from the force itself.
Newly-released video clips show 38-year-old Ms Iman being carried into a police cell and forced on to a thin mattress, after being arrested in the early hours of February 5, 2021.
Police officers were seen removing her jeans and cutting off her knickers, before taking off her top and bra and leaving her alone and topless.
She had been arrested when police came to her home and she knocked the glasses off of a female officer’s face.
Officers were reportedly responding to a welfare call-out about a woman said to be high on cocaine.
She told Sky News: “Instead of providing an unconscious female with medical attention they thought, ‘I know, let’s take her clothes off instead and leave her there’.”
Medical records have suggested she suffered sexual injuries during her ordeal.
She added: “I’m openly saying that at some point, during my detention with Greater Manchester Police, I was drugged and sexually assaulted.
“Prove me wrong – give me the footage.”
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) have now referred themselves to the independent police watchdog.
The force’s Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said in a statement: “I want to make it absolutely clear that we understand and share the concerns of the public regarding allegations against Greater Manchester Police which were aired in a television report today.
“Miss Iman’s allegations regarding her treatment in custody, in February 2021, are subject to an ongoing investigation.
“The force made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) which instructed a GMP-led investigation.
“Having reviewed the content of the television report which highlights additional concerns, I have taken the decision to make another referral to the IOPC in order to assure Miss Iman and the public that all of her allegations will be rigorously and independently reviewed.”