Downing Street today urged the public not to turn off emergency alerts on their phones following criticism of the Government’s use of the system to warn about wildfires.

Millions of Britons received messages on Friday evening urging them not to light anything that could spark a wildfire, including disposable barbecues and fireworks.

It came as fears grew of further devastating blazes, with Britain still experiencing ‘tinderbox’ conditions due to this summer’s heatwaves.

But the use of the emergency alerts system by the Government has been criticised by some as unnecessary, with ministers told they risked ‘crying wolf’.

There were also questions over whether an ‘immediate risk to life’ threshold had been met in the use of the system to issue a general warning about wildfires.

Nick Ross, the chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council board of trustees, said Friday’s use of emergency alerts was ‘not appropriate’.

The former Crimewatch presenter also revealed he nearly crashed his car when he received the ‘extraordinary sound’ on his phone.

‘Personally, I don’t think it was appropriate to use that. That is a big cudgel for this,’ he told Times Radio.

Firefighters are pictured attempting to control a wildfire blaze on fields at Flinton Hill Farm, close to Herrington Country Park, in Sunderland yesterday

He continued: ‘I nearly crashed my car. I remember driving along, all of a sudden, wow, wow, wow, this extraordinary sound went off.’

‘I had no idea what was going on. This is the sort of thing that I think is for an acute emergency. It’s not, this is a chronic thing.

‘That warning could have come any day, any time. So I think we’ve got to be very careful about overusing that, otherwise people will cry wolf.’

But Mr Ross added, speaking in an ‘official capacity’, that it was ‘entirely appropriate’ to warn about the risk of wildfires across Britain.

‘Fire risk in Britain is enormous,’ he said. ‘We are, as a society, not good at protecting ourselves from what we regard as small risks, even though the consequences are vast.

‘And you only need to look at what’s happened in Spain and in France to recognise just how catastrophic wildfires can be.

‘We don’t have the tanker aircraft that they do to put out these big fires. So yes, in one sense, we desperately need to be warned.’

Downing Street on Monday defended the use of the emergency alerts system.

A No10 spokeswoman told reporters: ‘On Friday alone, when that alert was issued, crews were tackling 43 wildfires across the country and had declared 11 major incidents, which stretched resources to the very limit and required military support, as we announced on the day.

‘We took the decision to use the system after a direct request from fire and rescue services, on the front line of the fight against wildfires.’

Asked about the possibility of people disabling emergency alerts on their phones in the wake of Friday’s use of the system, the spokeswoman added: ‘The emergency alert system is in place to communicate life-saving advice, and we would encourage people to use it.’

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner on Monday met with emergency responders who fought the home-destroying Stourbridge fires at West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service HQ

Ms Rayner could be seen walking among the shells of houses at Quarry Park Road, Stourbridge, following the huge blaze which destroyed 19 homes.

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Phil Garrigan, chairman of the National Fire Chiefs Council, hailed a ‘fantastic’ response to Friday’s use of emergency alerts but urged Britons to remain ‘vigilant’ over the risk of wildfires.

‘This has undoubtedly been an incredibly tough period for fire and rescue services, but we are beginning to see incident numbers reduce and that is welcome news,’ he said.

‘I want to pay tribute to the outstanding dedication and professionalism of firefighters, fire control room teams and all those supporting the response behind the scenes.

‘For weeks they have worked tirelessly in exceptionally challenging conditions, often responding to multiple incidents simultaneously, to protect lives, homes, businesses and our natural environment.

‘It has also been fantastic to see how the public have responded following Friday’s emergency alert and the support they have shown their local fire and rescue services. 

‘People have listened to the advice, taken sensible precautions and helped reduce the risk of further fires at a time when emergency services have been under immense pressure.

‘But we are not out of this yet. Conditions remain exceptionally dry in many parts of the country and it only takes one spark to start a serious wildfire.

‘We have seen first-hand the devastating consequences these fires can have for communities, wildlife and property. I would therefore urge everyone to remain vigilant, continue to follow public safety advice and avoid any activity that could start a fire.’

Angela Rayner, the Housing Secretary, on Monday visited the burnt-out remains of homes in the West Midlands gutted by a wildfire last week.

She could be seen walking among the shells of houses at Quarry Park Road, Stourbridge, following the huge blaze which destroyed 19 homes.

Ms Rayner said the devastation from wildfires was ‘absolutely horrendous’ and praised the local community.

‘The community have been exceptional, looking out for each other,’ she added.

‘The emergency services, the police, the fire, the ambulance service, the local authority, the local MP, Cat (Eccles) here, and the community have come together to really support each other.

‘But it is devastating to see the level of damage and the emotional turmoil of losing everything, and that’s what these families have gone through.’

Ms Rayner continued: ‘We’re seeing a pattern here with the wildfires. We’re seeing a pattern with climate.

‘We have introduced £100million more equipment and we’ve got specialist fire crews now that look at wildfires, and they have been pushed by what’s happened.’

The Stourbridge fire is among a host of blazes which have ripped across Britain over the last week.

Other fires have raged across South Wales, in the New Forest, and in the Cairngorms in Scotland.

Temperatures are set to cool, and rain is set to fall in some areas in coming days, but extreme heat is expected to return after that.

A total of 1,132 wildfires have now been recorded across England and Wales in 2026 so far. 

Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, who was a government minister when the emergency alerts system was set up, said the message sent on Friday was an ‘abuse of the system for the purpose of political posturing’.

He added: ‘This is the equivalent of crying wolf – people won’t take it as seriously in the future, and others may seek to disable the feature.

‘Either way, using the alert system in this way has undermined its usefulness in a real imminent future emergency.’

Fellow Tory frontbencher Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, also criticised the decision to send out an alert, highlighting that ‘an immediate risk to life’ should exist before it is used.

‘Tonight’s use at a national level clearly doesn’t hit that threshold and opens the door to future misuse of the system,’ he wrote on X on Friday evening.

Australia’s busiest airport is set to undergo a 20-year expansion project to raise its annual passenger capacity to more than 70 million travellers.

Sydney airport’s Master Plan 2045 has been approved by the Australian government to “strengthen global connectivity” and drive economic growth across New South Wales.

Once complete, a capacity of more than 72 million annual passengers is forecasted, nearly doubling its current traffic.

This includes 36.4 million international passengers and 36.2 million domestic and regional passengers.

The airport, officially named Sydney Kingsford Smith, first opened on 9 January 1920 – more than 100 years ago – and served 42.5 million annual passengers in 2025.

Australia’s second busiest airport, Melbourne, in the state of Victoria, handled 36.15 million passengers in the year between 2024 and 2025.

As part of the plan, a northern extension will provide additional facilities to Terminal 1, including baggage reclaim, with a southern expansion accommodating new passenger processing facilities and an apron reconfiguration to cater for next-generation aircraft.

The redevelopment will also integrate domestic, regional and international operations by merging T2 and T3 to streamline the passenger experience.

According to the airport, its annual economic contribution is expected to grow to around $70 billion AUD (£37 billion), supporting more than 105,000 new jobs.

It added that “Sydney airport needs to plan for long-term passenger, airline, freight and operational demand”.

A preliminary draft of the Master Plan was first opened for public consultation in September 2025.

Plans incorporate the aviation hub’s five-year Airport Environment Strategy to reduce carbon emissions and promote more sustainable operations.

Sydney airport CEO Scott Charlton said: “As Sydney grows, Sydney airport must grow with it. Approval of Sydney airport Master Plan 2045 provides a clear pathway to plan for future demand and invest in the infrastructure Sydney will need over the next two decades.

“As Australia’s international gateway, this plan ensures we can continue supporting tourism, trade, investment and jobs while delivering the capacity needed for future generations. Importantly, it provides a framework for growing sustainably and responsibly, minimising environmental impacts and working closely with the communities surrounding the airport.”

Minister for infrastructure, transport, regional development and local government Catherine King added: “Kingsford Smith is Australia’s busiest airport, it must remain fit for the future.

“Airports aren’t artworks, they’re constantly evolving to become more efficient and improve the passenger experience, and this new Master Plan maps out the airport’s plan to do just that.”

Read more: Australia probes three near-misses in less than two weeks at Sydney airport

Every day on Criminal Record we will be bringing you a round-up of the biggest crime stories of the day.

If you love to read about crime in Scotland – this is the place to be every day.

Here’s what has been making the news across the country on Monday.

Woman who tried to kill toddler with drugs caged for six years

A woman who attempted to murder a toddler by repeatedly giving the child adult medication in a “utterly wicked” crime was today given a life sentence.

Laura Docherty dosed the little girl with antidepressant and pain killing drugs resulting in her needing to be resuscitated and placed on a ventilator during the prolonged abuse.

Docherty, 35, formerly of Canmore Road, Glenrothes, in Fife, denied attempting to murder the child during an earlier trial but was unanimously convicted of the crime.

She gave the child Amitriptyline, Propranolol and Dihydrocodeine on various occasions between April 2021 and February 2023 at a house in Edinburgh, the city’s Royal Hospital for Children and Young People and elsewhere to the danger of the victim’s life.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard that as a result of taking the medication the girl, who was aged two when the offending began, suffered seizures and episodes of reduced consciousness.

The victim was admitted to hospital and was subjected to “unnecessary medical investigations and procedures” the attempted murder charge stated.

READ MORE: ‘Utterly wicked’ Woman who tried to kill toddler with drugs caged for six years

Two men die after being found injured in Glasgow flat

Two men have died after they were both found seriously injured at a flat in Glasgow.

Emergency services raced to Chancellor Street in Partick after the men, aged 50 and 54, were discovered at 4.40pm on Sunday, August 16.

Paramedics attended the address but both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

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Police say their deaths are currently being treated as unexplained. Post-mortem examinations will be carried out in due course.

Their families are aware. Inquiries to establish the full circumstances surrounding the double-death are ongoing.

READ MORE: Two men die after being found injured in Glasgow flat as police probe ‘unexplained’ deaths

Woman arrested after two cops injured in ‘hit and run’

A woman has been arrested after two cops were injured in an alleged hit and run.

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The incident took place on Glen Avenue in Larkhall, South Lanarkshire, at around 2pm on Saturday, July 25.

Emergency services, including Police Scotland and Scottish Ambulance Service, rushed to the scene after police received a report of two of their uniformed officers having been knocked down.

The force confirmed that the pair had been carrying out enquiries at a property in the area before a white Renault Traffic was “deliberately driven at them”.

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Both male officers, aged 41 and 43, were blue-lighted to hospital.

READ MORE: Woman arrested after two cops injured in ‘hit and run’ as police continue to hunt man

E-bike smashes into car seconds after wheelie stunt

A furious mum is demanding a ban on e-bikes after a reckless rider ploughed into the side of her car just seconds after pulling a wheelie stunt in the middle of the road in Aberdeenshire.

Gemma Davidson, 32, had been driving along Union Grove in Fraserburgh when the rider smashed into her new vehicle at around 5.30pm on Friday, August 14.

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The mum-of-one and her partner, who was also in the car, were left uninjured – however, the side of her motor was left damaged as a result of the collision.

Shocking Ring Doorbell footage captured at a nearby property was shared with Gemma after the smash took place.

It shows the rider of the bike pulling an erratic wheelie in the middle of the street just moments before colliding with Gemma’s car.

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His body was then filmed flying from the vehicle before crashing onto the road behind the car as impact took place.

Speaking to the Record, Gemma said: “It was so incredibly dangerous, he could have killed himself. I was left badly shaken up and worried that he had severely hurt himself.”

READ MORE: E-bike smashes into car seconds after wheelie stunt as mum demands ban ‘before someone is killed’

Man in hospital after ‘stabbing’ in Dunfermline

A man has been rushed to hospital following an alleged stabbing in Fife.

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The alarm was raised around 2.30pm when officers were alerted to a disturbance in the Tuke Street area of Dunfermline on Sunday, August 16.

Emergency services, including Police Scotland and Scottish Ambulance Service, rushed to the scene.

A 25-year-old was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh with serious injuries. His current condition remains unclear.

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An investigation has now been launched to get to the bottom of what happened.

The full nature of the incident is not yet known. No arrests have been made thus far.

The street was sealed off by police last night after a large number of officers descended on the area.

READ MORE: Man rushed to hospital after ‘stabbing’ in Dunfermline as cops lock down street

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There will be food vendors and stalls at the event, selling popcorn, confectionery, drinks and slushies

A series of outdoor “drive thru” cinema experiences have been approved for Boucher Road Playing Fields this December.

Elected representatives at a Belfast City Council committee have approved a request from CinePark Limited to host the drive thru movies. The movie programme was not announced during the meeting.

CinePark will run a ticketing system where one car will buy only one ticket regardless of the number of people in the car. Standard tickets will cost £20 and premium £25.

READ MORE: Belfast Council to confiscate bins left out on the street seven days after warning

READ MORE: Good relations festival and two charity events given green light for Belfast parks in the Autumn

All tickets will be sold via the CinePark website, but the council states they will also take payment on site if required. There will be food vendors and stalls at the event, selling popcorn, confectionery, drinks and slushies.

The council report for the People and Communities Committee states: “The event organiser expects between 150 to 250 cars to attend the event per day split across different showings at different times of the day. The event organiser has scheduled a variety of movies to accommodate a wide audience demographic ranging from families with young children and teenagers, young couples through to a maturer audience.

“It’s likely to be themed very much around Christmas and the festive time of year and will give families something very different to do. CinePark Limited will be solely responsible for acquiring and maintaining all appropriate movie licences, rights, etc. for all the titles that will be shown.

“The event organiser will be using a 7×4 metre LED screen that comes on a trailer platform with a hydraulic system to raise the screen. The platform ensures quick installation and removal as no structure has to be built. A FM radio transmitter will be used to broadcast the audio for the movies directly to each car radio.”

Belfast’s most recent prominent temporary pop-up drive-in cinema was hosted at the Titanic Slipways by the Belfast Film Festival. A drive-in cinema event was last held at Boucher Road Playing Fields in December, 2020, featuring screenings of “The Grinch” and “Elf” as part of a Belfast City Council PEACE IV initiative

The primary regular drive-thru cinema near Belfast is at Let’s Go Hydro, at Knockbracken Reservoir in Carryduff, 10 minutes outside the city.

The council report states: “This proposed event will be the first time that CinePark Limited has held an event with Belfast City Council so council officers will carry out additional due-diligence when planning and regulating this event. Officers have already carried out checks with Companies House and early meetings and site visits with the organisers have been very constructive.

“Members are aware of the (committee) decision to return Boucher Road Playing Fields to full playing pitch provision. Whilst the work to develop the site is ongoing all decisions around current use of the playing fields will be taken on a case-by-case basis.”

The report adds: “The council will collect a fee for the hire of Boucher Road Playing fields. The promoter shall further pay to the council a social contribution fee which shall equate to 10 percent of the overall site fee received. The council will use this by way of investment back into the local community.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Summer brings many traditional events and festivals across the world. In much of England, summer is the theme of several folk celebrations dating back centuries. Far from negative and exclusionary ideas of national identity, the season actually showcases many positives.

Many towns and areas around the UK celebrate the summer, starting in May with “Jack in the Green” – a figure draped in leaves who has been slumbering since the previous year. The event, based on folkloric tales is increasingly important for local businesses to kick off summer trade.

For the past decade, I’ve been researching the significance of festivals for social connection, and for promoting sustainable lifestyle changes. Elsewhere, international research has also demonstrated that multi-day mass gatherings across the year can dramatically change our perspectives of who we are, and where we want our lives to lead.

I have found that mass gatherings can be especially important for those who are marginalised. They can also empower groups seeking social change. In a study that I undertook with colleagues, vegans who attended the Vegan Camp Out festival in Nottinghamshire reported feeling more connected to their vegan identity, and more willing to maintain their vegan activism after attending.

Events and mass-gatherings like this across the world can encourage people to pause and reconsider their idea of themselves and their place in the world.

The role of folklore

I am currently involved in a two-year project exploring the role that folklore plays in social and environmental connection in the south of England.

I’m working with filmmaker Rosie Robinson to explore how new iterations of old traditions (often known as “neo-folklore”) can help people reconnect to each other, British culture and the natural environment.

It can be too easy for conversations about identity to centre around discrimination and exclusion. Rosie’s film Merrie England highlights the current and historic tensions around ritual celebrations and traditions in English communities.

Throughout history, those with power have often had a vested interest in deciding who gets to claim these national identities and rituals for themselves, and who is excluded from celebrations. The film showcases the history of morris dancing in the UK using archive footage.

It details outrage directed at suffragette Mary Neal, whose aim was to popularise morris dancing for slum girls and working women in the 1910s and 1920s. While prominent figures in the folk revival sought to maintain morris dancing as an exclusive art form to be taken seriously by a select group, Neal saw it as part of living and breathing culture that should be accessible to all.

But this gatekeeping doesn’t match with what we see from communities in our ongoing research. In our work on local community folklore festivals, we saw community connection, meaningful rituals and celebration. We saw pubs overflowing, dancing in the streets, children listening to stories and people from all walks of life gathering to celebrate.

Community events happening over the summer festival season are an important way for neighbours and communities to connect. Free events help to build tourist interest in lesser-known communities, and are accessible forms of entertainment to those who can’t afford more expensive events.

À lire aussi :
Solar eclipses are a source of fascination, legends and scientific discovery

These local traditions also help to develop new rituals around special events. The solar eclipse across Europe saw people sharing pinhole cameras, glasses and colanders. Seeing how others experience the world and celebrate can bring joy. And mass gatherings can even be the source of new cultural links, as seen in the connection formed between the Scotland team’s “Tartan Army” of supporters and residents of Boston.

Despite this, it’s often the case that bad news stories dominate the headlines. Research shows that “moral outrage” drives engagement with traditional and social media. In other words, people are more likely to engage with and share content that discusses harms. But for every negative viral headline, there are more feelgood stories about generous communities. These aren’t always shared in the same way, because they don’t draw the same attention.

That’s why my colleagues and I are researching these stories of community and connection. We want to share these stories and help people connect or reconnect with their communities, natural environment and local heritage.

Throughout summer, it’s worth remembering that cultural celebrations do not have to be exclusionary. They can be about morris dancing, processions, holding up colanders to look at the sun and even football chants. The season shows that national and cultural identities are important sources of celebration, silliness and connection – truly needed in this increasingly divided era.

The policeman brother of the siblings caught on camera battling officers at Manchester Airport described a black female colleague’s braided hair as ‘looking like a mop’, a misconduct hearing was told today.

PC Mohammed Abid is one of seven current and two former officers facing disciplinary proceedings over allegations of using racist language.

It comes after a policewoman claimed colleagues based at Bury police station regularly ‘mimicked’ her African accent, leaving her feeling ‘anxious’ and ‘nervous’.

In July 2024, there was widespread outrage when PC Abid’s younger brother Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, then 19, was seen being kicked in the face by a police officer in mobile phone footage which went viral.

However, CCTV footage later revealed that he and another brother, Muhammad Amaad, had violently resisted efforts to arrest Amaaz for headbutting of a tourist at Manchester Airport.

After a case which sparked accusations of police racism and claims of two-tier justice, Amaaz was jailed for assaulting two female officers.

But two juries failed to reach verdicts on whether he or Amaad had assaulted a male colleague.

Lawyers for the men repeatedly highlighted how neither brother – both from Rochdale – had been in trouble with the police before, and six members of the family are current or former officers with Greater Manchester Police.

PC Mohammed Abid and other constables are alleged to have used racist language towards black colleague PC Y at Bury police station (pictured) in Greater Manchester

Heavily-built Amaad, a former assistant manager at KFC, had himself twice applied unsuccessfully to join the force – including a 999 dispatch role just three months before the airport incident.

Both trials heard a glowing character reference from PC Abid, who praised his brother Amaaz’s ‘respectful, gentle and soft-spoken nature’ and ‘dedication to academic roles’.

‘He’s always looked up to me as a role model,’ he added.

But jurors were not told that PC Abid faced disciplinary proceedings over the racism allegation.

After the Manchester Airport case came to an end, the solicitor who represented the brothers at their trials claimed PC Abid’s identity had been leaked as part of a ‘desperate’ attempt to ‘smear’ his clients.

‘Sadly it comes as no surprise that Greater Manchester Police should now turn its attention to my clients’ brother,’ Aamer Anwar said.

A misconduct hearing heard today how constables based at Bury police station imitated the accent of a female officer originally from Africa who has been granted anonymity and is referred to as PC Y.

PC Abid is said to have spoken to PC Y – who at the time wore her hair in braids – and describing it as ‘looking like a mop’ before ‘smiling and walking away’.

CCTV from the Manchester Airport trial shows Amaaz (in blue) throwing 10 punches at the officers during the violence, while his brother – Muhammad Amaad (far left), 26 – threw six

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Mohammed Fahir Amaaz (pictured arriving at court in 2025) was later jailed for three-and-a-half years over the violence at Manchester Airport

‘PC Y believed the way she styled her hair was common among black ladies and that PC Abid made the comment because she is a black female,’ Steve Reed, counsel for Greater Manchester Police, told the hearing.

PC Abid claims her account is false, the hearing was told. He is not accused of mimicking her accent.

On another occasion, out of her earshot, Sergeant Adrian Bick pointed out a photograph of a black fraud suspect and said she could be Officer Y’s mother.

PC Demi Green then repeated the comment to Officer Y, the hearing was told.

Officer Y believed the comment was ‘in part at least’ because of the ‘shared skin colour’ of herself and the suspect.

Other constables on the team are accused of ‘mimicking’ Officer Y’s African accent, copying how she said words like ‘hello’.

They included PCs Heena Rani and Lucy Granby, who were part of a close-knit team with PC Y, the hearing was told. 

Giving evidence by videolink, PC Y was asked by Mr Reed how the alleged mimicking made her feel.

Amaaz was convicted of causing actual bodily harm to PC Ward, who suffered a broken nose, and assaulting PC Ellie Cook

Amaaz, 21 (left), and 26-year-old Muhammad Amaad pictured last year 

‘It was quite upsetting,’ she replied.

‘It made me uncomfortable, nervous, quite anxious as well.

‘I may have laughed, but I tend to laugh when I’m feeling those things.

‘As things got worse I tended to be quiet about it.

‘They would copy whatever I say and then they would laugh about it.’

The mimicking happened ‘most days’ and involved them ‘repeating the words she said, copying her… accent,’ Mr Reed said.

‘It was clear that PC Rani and PC Granby thought this was funny. [Officer Y] did not find it funny.’

After a colleague intervened, PCs Rani and Granby apologised to PC Y, the hearing was told, but the mimicking allegedly resumed.

Instead, Mr Reed said, other constables on the team began doing the same thing.

Fellow police officers recalled them ‘impersonating’ her ‘African accent’ and ‘deep laugh’, Mr Reed said, causing PC Y to appear ‘uncomfortable’.

PC Y came forward with her accusations in November 2023.

The other officers facing misconduct proceedings are PCs Matthew Barlow and Matthew Hill, as well as former PC Jake Holt and a former officer referred to only as A.

All nine are accused of breaching professional standards in relation to authority, respect and courtesy, equality and diversity, and discreditable conduct.

Apart from Sergeant Bick and PC Abid they are also all accused of breaching requirements on challenging and reporting improper behaviour.

Sergeant Bick and PC Green admit the incident in which a suspect’s photograph was compared to PC Y’s mother took place.

Sergeant Bick claims he was referring to the suspect’s hairstyle and glasses, not the colour of her skin.

But he recognised the comment could be ‘perceived as racist’ and has apologised.

He is not accused of making any ‘derogatory’ comments in PC Y’s presence. 

PC Green also maintains she took Sergeant Bick’s comment as a reference to her ‘curly hair and glasses’, saying PC Y ‘laughed’ when she relayed it.

On the mimicking allegations, PC Green admits copying how PC Y said ‘ok’ in a ‘high-pitched manner’ but denies it amounted to racism.

PCs Rani and Granby also only accept copying how PC Y said ‘ok’ and say this was a ‘shared joke’ in the team.

PCs Barlow, Hill, Holt and Officer A gave similar accounts.

All nine are alleged to have subjected PC Y to ‘unwanted’, ‘offensive’ and ‘racist’ commentary, and all face being guilty of gross misconduct if the claims are found proven.

The Manchester Airport incident erupted after Amaaz headbutted a holidaymaker he had accused of racially abusing his mother, whom they had met from an incoming flight from Pakistan.

Amaaz, then 19, smashed PC Lydia Ward in the face, sending her sprawling to the ground, before repeatedly hitting armed colleague PC Ellie Cook.

Amaad meanwhile overpowered a second armed PC, Zachary Marsden, and began raining punches down before Amaaz joined in.

The brothers were finally both arrested after PC Cook fired her 50,000 volt Taser at Amaaz, who fell to the floor.

Amid the confusion, PC Marsden kicked the teenager in the face and aimed a stamp close by.

Footage of the kick went viral, with protesters taking to the streets and calling for the police to be ‘defunded’.

But there was a fierce backlash after CCTV showed the violence to which the officers had been subjected seconds earlier.

Amaaz was last year convicted of causing actual bodily harm to Sergeant Ward and assaulting PC Cook, as well as the headbutted passenger.

But two juries failed to reach verdicts on whether either brother had assaulted PC Marsden.

To widespread outrage, prosecutors later said they could not ‘lawfully’ seek a second retrial, meaning older brother Amaad, 26, faces no further action.

In May, the policewoman left bloodied and sobbing in Amaaz’s attack branded him a ‘coward’ as he was jailed for three-and-a-half years.

PC Ward – now a sergeant – accused the university drop-out of showing ‘not one ounce’ of remorse for using her ‘as a punch bag’.

Delivering a powerful victim impact statement, the mother of one spelt out the lasting physical and mental scars of having her nose broken in the ‘utterly terrifying’ assault, telling the university drop-out: ‘You changed my face.’

Sergeant Ward accused him of having ‘played the victim’ when one-sided footage first emerged.

And she movingly revealed she had been forced to bring her newborn child with her when she gave evidence, telling 21-year-old Amaaz a court was ‘no place for a baby’.

Jailing Amaaz for 42 months for the ‘unprovoked’ assaults, Judge Neil Flewitt accused him of showing ‘a total lack of remorse’.

He ‘sought to blame others for what was clearly your responsibility’ and ‘portray yourself as a victim,’ he added.

PC Marsden remains under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct which could still refer him back to the Crown Prosecution Service for potential charges.

Separate to today’s disciplinary proceedings, four officers also from the Bury district face misconduct proceedings after the IOPC investigated an unrelated incident of alleged racism.

That inquiry is understood to have been triggered after comments were accidentally recorded on a suspect’s mobile phone.

It saw one officer, PC Scott Dixon, sacked, reportedly for using the word ‘golliwog’ towards a fellow officer.

The hearing continues.

Maresca said that any player at Manchester City can work to earn minutes on the pitch after Jack Grealish made a surprise return to the team. The 30-year-old has started just one Premier League game for the club since December 2024 but came on for the second half of their Community Shield defeat to Arsenal. City agreed for Grealish to go on loan last season to Everton, where he briefly impressed but also suffered a serious injury that brought a premature end to his campaign. He was not included in City’s pre-season tour to Asia as he worked individually instead in Mallorca, but has trained with the squad for the last week and got 45 minutes against Arsenal.

Grealish is still expected to leave the club, either permanently or on loan, before the transfer window shuts, but Maresca was happy with his performance in Cardiff. “Jack was inside when we were 2-0 down so the game already became complicated after that, but overall I think Jack was good,” he said. “The ones that are still here and want to work every day and if they deserve they’re going to get minutes. At the moment the transfer window is open and we will see what happens.”

Read more here>>>

As the new Telegraph Fantasy Football season approaches, the fantasy football experts at Fantasy Football Hub will continue to bring you the very best in fantasy football knowledge, tips and tools to help you rise up the ranks and win your mini-leagues.

To join the Hub and get access to all their great resources and expert tips you can take advantage of its 50% pre-season discount here.

Telegraph Fantasy Football managers need to make compromises to fit in fantasy heavyweights like Erling Haaland (£8.3m) and Bruno Fernandes (6.5m). Picking some set-and-forget budget enablers who have either high point ceiling potential or will return a steady stream of points, is key to freeing up those funds.

Below are five players the Fantasy Football Hub experts have highlighted for consideration.

Brian Brobbey (£3.3m)

The Sunderland forward had a steady Premier League debut season, netting seven times and helping the Black Cats qualify for the Europa League. The Dutch international netted three times at the World Cup, improving his stock further, and will be looking to get off to a goal-scoring start against Ipswich and Fulham in GWs 1 and 2.

 

Enzo Le Fee (£3.3m)

Depending on the formation TFF managers are using, Brobbey’s midfield teammate at the same price may be the preferred route to target those opening fixtures. The 26-year-old accrued 12 attacking returns last season, and bumped up his overall score with an impressive 93 tackles.

 

Harry Wilson (£3.2m)

The midfielder swapped London for Yorkshire in the summer, as he looks to expand on a whopping 17 attacking returns from last season. Feeding the rejuvenated Dominic Calvert-Lewin (£3.9m), and adding goals from midfield for Leeds will be two primary objectives for the Welsh international, who could make a mockery of his mere marginal price increase.

 

James Trafford (£3.0m)

Another Leeds United summer acquisition, Daniel Farke fought off rival Premier League suitors to land the ex-Manchester City shot-stopper. Leeds United have a mixed bag in terms of opening fixture difficulty, but do have three home league games in the first five before the international break, and the new no.1 has an outside chance of getting the nod in the Carabao Cup games too, so there are points available should the Whites be able to shut out the opposition.

 

James Hill (£2.6m)

If looking to fit in more big-hitters, a sub £3m player can be extremely useful for team balance, and the Bournemouth defender looks assured of starting having played a pivotal role in getting the Cherries into Europe this season.

 

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This week also saw a Greater Manchester council told it needs to make improvements

A Greater Manchester care service has been recognised for going ‘above and beyond’ in this week’s round-up of healthcare inspections.

Oldham’s Roxhsana Ltd received the top ‘outstanding’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Staff at the homecare service, also known as Visiting Angels Manchester East, are ‘like family’, users and relatives said.

Care delivered by the homecare service made an evident impact to the wellbeing of service users, the healthcare watchdog documented.

Here is a breakdown of Greater Manchester’s recently published CQC reports:

Bolton

Spennymoor Care Home, in Church Road, was rated ‘good’ overall this week. The home was praised by inspectors as ‘homely’ with ‘regular staff team, some of whom had worked there for many years’.

There were enough staff, these were recruited safely, and training was in place. Staff ‘responded well’ if residents experienced problems or had concerns, the report added.

People were able to choose how they spent their day, what they wore and what time they got up and went to bed. The home also put on activities such as crafts, music and quizzes. However, people said they wanted more opportunities to go out into the community.

One relative said: “I think it is good, there is a smile on [person’s] face, so they are doing something right. We don’t worry about [person] in this home.”

A resident added: “You get bucket loads of care.”

However, concerns were raised over leadership at the home, with the CQC saying improvements were needed in that area. Lessons were not ‘continually identified’, the report said, and reviews did not take place into incidents.

Inspectors also said risk assessments were not consistent, with staff not having ‘all the required information about people’s care’. There was also not an up-to-date fire risk assessment, the report said.

Regular night-time spot checks did not appear to take place, the CQC said. While the provider advised that these were completed, they were not documented.

Despite this, people who used the service, along with their relatives, felt it was ‘safe’.

Bury

Dr Laurence Howard Sherman, at Greyland Medical Centre, also received a ‘good’ rating this week. Staff at the Prestwich GP were described as ‘caring’, ‘always eager to help’ and ‘like old friends’ by patients.

The surgery had introduced specialist nurse clinics to improve access following patient feedback. There were enough ‘qualified, skilled and experienced’ staff employed there.

However, the CQC found some hazards in staff-only areas, including a torn carpet inspectors felt could be a trip risk. They also said documents for staff recruitment were missing, including signed contracts and right to work evidence. The GP had plans in place to address these concerns.

Another ‘good’ rating was handed to Huntley Mount Medical Centre, in Bury. Inspectors praised the GP’s ‘innovative ways of working’ that made access to important information ‘simple’ for staff.

This included an emergency equipment wall that had information about what to do in an emergency, checklists and pictures of what was in locked medicine boxes.

Experienced staff had also created a ‘library’ of guides to help less experienced staff understand how to carry out tasks. Some 92pc of patients said staff treated them with ‘care and concern’ in a national survey.

More services had been brought into the practice to help people who could not afford to travel to access them elsewhere.

Manchester

Chorlton Place Nursing Home was deemed to be ‘good’ this week after improvements had been made following a previous critical report. The CQC found the service was no longer in breach of regulations around safe care and good governance.

Inspectors said improvements had been ‘sustained and further strengthened’. They reported that lessons were learned from incidents and changes introduced.

Previous concerns regarding cleanliness and pest control had been addressed, while risks in the home had also been resolved. Care was now considered to be safe and service users said staff ‘worked hard’ to meet people’s needs.

Oldham

Roxhsana Ltd received the top ‘outstanding’ rating this week. Staff at the homecare service, also known as Visiting Angels Manchester East, go ‘above and beyond’ and are ‘like family’, users and relatives said.

When one service user went into respite, her carers in their own time visited and took her flowers and chocolates, a family member said. They added: “It was very much appreciated by [Name], she loves them.”

The CQC said staff ‘took time to listen’ to people’s concerns, encouraging them to express how they were feeling and helping them access support.

Another family member said their relative was ‘very depressed’ and the service employed someone who could speak with them in their first language. They added: “They are eating more, and are smiling more, I think he [registered manager] relates, he doesn’t just provide care, he provides the socialisation bit, he sees everything.”

When staff raised concerns with the provider about practical concerns such as feeling vulnerable in the darker winter months, prompt action was taken. This included creating winter care kits containing torches with panic alarms, ice scrapers, reusable water bottles and snacks.

Recruitment processes were ‘rigorous’, ensuring ‘suitable, skilled and safety‑conscious employees’ were hired. Care was safe and ‘person-centred’.

When a service user was discharged from hospital, staff used gentle therapeutic exercises and activity, and light massage techniques to reduce stiffness and increase movement in their limbs. Care was ‘adapted daily’ and progress monitored ‘closely’, with the person eventually regaining ‘significant movement’ and their pain reducing.

Stockport

Caritas General Practice Partnership, in Dial House Medical Centre, received a ‘good’ rating from inspectors. Some 96pc of people using the Mile End Lane GP said the provider was ‘good at treating them with care and concern’.

The premises were ‘visibly clean’, the CQC added. Changes had been made in response to patient feedback that saw a triage system introduced. This guaranteed all patients who wished were seen or contacted by nursing staff on the same day.

Significant adaptations and upgrades had been made to buildings to improve accessibility, despite them being more than 100-years-old. However, leaders recognised this was an ‘ongoing challenge’.

Trafford

Adult social care services at Trafford council were rated ‘requires improvement’ by the CQC in the second critical service report received by the council this month. The watchdog found long waits; low satisfaction; and ‘ineffective’ sharing of safeguarding lessons.

Just 58pc of those using Trafford’s adult social care services were ‘satisfied’ with their care, compared to the England average of 65pc, the report said. Various service areas were experiencing delays, including care act assessments, care reviews, occupational therapy and financial assistance for carers.

Inspectors flagged additional concerns with safeguarding handling. While concerns were dealt with in a ‘timely manner’, partners said they had to ‘chase outcomes which were not forthcoming or timely’, leaving them ‘uncertain how to manage risks going forward’.

When updates were received, these were ‘usually limited’, resulting in ‘inadequate understanding and delayed coordinated action to reduce risks’.

Transitions from children’s services into the department were ‘not seamless’ with inconsistent pathways and delays, the CQC said. Families were ‘often unclear’ on what to expect and ‘worried about their future’.

However, the CQC did recognise that improvements were underway at the council, acknowledging that waiting times were reducing and people were accessing care and support more quickly.

The council has a ‘senior leadership team who had the vision and passion to improve services for the people of Trafford’, the report added. ‘Clear improvements’ have been made since January 2025 when a new interim director was appointed for the service, it continued.

Leaders say they ‘accept the findings’ and ‘know there is more to do’. Further measures have been introduced since the inspection, including improved access to support efforts to reduce occupational therapy waiting lists, the council added.