A Manchester cafe owner has accused police of trying to recruit him as an informant against the pro-Palestinian direct action group Palestine Action, offering financial benefits and to turn a blind eye to certain low-level offences.
Alleged Recruitment Attempt
Shams Sadiq, 51, who owns two cafes in Manchester, said the inducements were made when he went to collect electronic devices confiscated during his arrest last year in connection with alleged offences related to the banned group. Sadiq, from Didsbury, claimed that on 15 May, two officers he believes were from Operation Wildflower—a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) response to the Gaza conflict—asked to speak with him at Ashton-under-Lyne police station.
According to Sadiq, the officers told him they knew he was deeply involved with Palestine Action after checking his devices, but would not charge him for last year's arrest. "They said to me: 'We need your help. Look, there's benefits in helping us,'" Sadiq told the Guardian. "I asked what kind of benefits—financial? Would they pay my taxes? They said they could help with that. The other officer mentioned other benefits, saying they could turn a blind eye to certain things, but not serious crimes."
Sadiq said he asked if they could get rid of his speeding tickets, to which they replied they did not care about speeding. He interpreted "help" as assisting with investigations into Palestine Action, possibly as an informer, and noted they considered him respected in his community, perhaps to help identify Muslims with extreme views.
Previous Airport Detention
Four days before the alleged offer, Sadiq was questioned at Manchester Airport under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act after returning from Morocco. He was held for over three hours, questioned about Palestine Action, Iran, and his finances, and his devices were seized. The same officers later returned the devices at a Starbucks meeting, apologizing for the inconvenience.
Sadiq, an outspoken pro-Palestine activist who attends marches and prints materials for pro-Palestinian groups, said his cafe was targeted last year when miniature Israeli flags were stuck on its door, reportedly due to his activism.
During the police station conversation, officers allegedly offered to protect him and his family and gave him a number to text if he decided to cooperate. Sadiq said he went public to ensure his safety, as neighbors have stopped talking to him since his arrest. "I feel like I need protection from the police rather than anything else. If they've got something on me, then charge me," he said.
Legal Response
Simon Pook, of Robert Lizar solicitors, is making formal representations to GMP on Sadiq's behalf, calling the force's conduct reminiscent of British state tactics during the Northern Ireland Troubles. "We're unhappy that he was put in that position and offered inducements to work for the state," Pook said. He questioned whether the Schedule 7 stop was used lawfully, suggesting it may have been intended to facilitate the recruitment attempt.
GMP declined to comment on the allegations.
