In July 2024, a 21-year-old man punched two female police officers at Manchester Airport, breaking one officer's nose and leaving the other so traumatised she gave up her role as a firearms officer. Mohammed Fahir Amaaz was jailed for three and a half years in June 2026 after being convicted of common assault and two counts of actual bodily harm. The case, which sparked protests after partial footage circulated on social media, highlights a recurring issue in the UK: violence against police officers and how the justice system responds.
The basics of this case involve Amaaz, from Rochdale, who attacked PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook as they tried to arrest him for headbutting a man in a Starbucks at Manchester Airport's Terminal 2. He threw 10 punches, two elbow strikes and one kick at the officers, and also headbutted a customer. The attack was captured on CCTV later leaked to the media. Amaaz was sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court after a four-week trial. Two separate juries failed to reach a verdict on charges that he assaulted a male officer, PC Zachary Marsden, and the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to seek a third trial. The male officer is facing an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over his use of force.
“Explains assaults on police in the UK using the Manchester Airport case as a key example.”
In the UK, assaulting a police officer is a specific offence under the Police Act 1996, carrying a maximum sentence of two years for common assault, but longer if grievous bodily harm is caused. Actual bodily harm (ABH), which Amaaz was also convicted of, can attract up to five years. The sentence given in this case—three and a half years—reflects the severity. The judge described the assaults as “prolonged and unprovoked”.
Why this matters for UK readers: violence against police officers is not rare. According to official figures, there were over 40,000 assaults on police in England and Wales in the year to March 2024, with many resulting in injury. These attacks take a heavy toll. PC Ward, who was 5ft 2in and eight stone at the time, told the court she was “petrified” and that the attack “changed who I am forever”. PC Cook said she was “traumatised” and had to move home because her face was “plastered all over national news”. The case also shows how partial social media footage can fuel public anger: initial clips showed only the male officer kicking Amaaz on the ground, leading to protests, while later CCTV revealed the full sequence of Amaaz punching the female officers first. The IOPC investigation into the male officer’s actions remains ongoing, but the judge noted that Amaaz was the “aggressor”.
Q: What is the sentence for assaulting a police officer in the UK? Common assault on a police officer carries a maximum of two years in prison. If the assault causes actual bodily harm (ABH), the maximum rises to five years. In serious cases, longer sentences may apply under general assault laws, such as grievous bodily harm (GBH) which can lead to life imprisonment. In Amaaz's case, he received three and a half years for ABH and common assault.
Q: What does “actual bodily harm” mean? Actual bodily harm (ABH) is a legal term for an assault that causes injury that is more than trivial, such as bruising, cuts, or a broken bone. It does not need to be permanent but must be more than a minor scratch or push. In Amaaz's case, PC Ward's broken nose was considered ABH, as were the injuries to PC Cook (bruising and swelling).
Q: Can police officers use force, and are they held accountable? Yes, police can use reasonable force to make an arrest or protect themselves or others. If the force is deemed excessive, officers may face misconduct hearings or criminal charges. In this case, PC Zachary Marsden is under IOPC investigation for his actions (kicking and stamping near Amaaz's head). Two juries failed to convict Amaaz for assaulting Marsden, and the CPS dropped the case. The IOPC investigation is ongoing.
What happens next? The IOPC will continue its investigation into PC Marsden’s use of force, which may lead to disciplinary action or a criminal file being sent to the CPS. Separately, the case has prompted renewed debate about police safety and the role of social media in shaping public perception of incidents. No legislative changes have been announced, but police unions have called for harsher sentences for assaults on officers.