PC sacked after mosque attack over WhatsApp row
PC Moosa was dismissed without notice over the incident
- Published
A police officer has been sacked for grabbing a man by the neck in his local mosque after a row on WhatsApp.
PC Muhammed Moosa was dismissed without notice after a misconduct hearing at Greater Manchester Police (GMP) headquarters.
The hearing was told he grabbed the man in the mosque's kitchen.
PC Moosa, who worked in GMP’s Bolton district and had been on restricted duties since March 2023, accepted his behaviour was gross misconduct.
Chief Constable Stephen Watson, who presided over the hearing, said what PC Moosa had done was "incompatible" with the role of a police officer.
He said he had shown no "self-control or tolerance" towards a member of the public.
Mr Watson said: "Culpability in this case is high and the officer's actions [were] deliberate, unforced and unlawful.
“PC Moosa deliberately sought out the victim, forcing an altercation resulting in an unprovoked assault.
“The assault was clearly out of character and to his credit, PC Moosa admitted the offence, and his regret and remorse is genuine.
“However, the purpose of these proceedings is to preserve public confidence in the police service and police officers can't commit criminal offences.”
PC Moosa's name will be added to the College of Policing Barred List.
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