A woman has accused Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham of failing to hold police officers accountable over her alleged rape while in custody. Zayna Iman, who has waived her right to anonymity, claims she was drugged and sexually assaulted by officers at Pendleton police station in Salford in February 2021.

Ms. Iman alleges that despite assurances from Mr. Burnham and the commissioning of an independent review into the treatment of vulnerable women in custody, no officers have been disciplined or held responsible. She says she first contacted the Mayor more than five years ago, shortly after the alleged incident, but felt her concerns were repeatedly dismissed.

Following Ms. Iman’s public disclosure of her allegations in July 2023, Mr. Burnham called on Dame Vera Baird KC, former victims’ commissioner, to undertake an independent review of custody practices involving vulnerable women. He also referred her case to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and pledged a full, proper, and independent investigation. However, Ms. Iman describes these measures as superficial steps aimed more at public relations than genuine accountability.

The incident reportedly occurred after police conducted a welfare check at Ms. Iman’s home during the COVID-19 lockdown. After being taken into custody, footage from the police station shows her strip-searched and handcuffed despite appearing unconscious. She was held for 40 hours before being released without charge.

Ms. Iman accessed police videos and logs under subject access requests, which showed her in a distressed state and appeared to reveal periods of nudity during custody. She maintains several hours of footage are missing, during which time she alleges the assault occurred. Police acknowledged that two hours of custody footage had been lost due to file corruption, with original video data overwritten before recovery efforts began.

Medical records indicated that Ms. Iman was admitted to hospital with what was described as an acute psychotic episode, likely drug-related, despite no previous history of mental illness. Doctors noted that her belief she had been drugged and assaulted was consistent with her symptoms rather than a delusion. Ms. Iman asserts police attempted to discredit her by promoting the narrative she was psychotic, undermining her allegations.

The IOPC has completed its investigation into the matter but has yet to publish its report. Ms. Iman says she has not been briefed on its findings and has lost confidence in the watchdog’s inquiry.

The Baird-led review of GMP custody practices highlighted systemic issues, including degrading strip searches and unlawful arrests of vulnerable women, prompting the police chief’s apology and commitment to implement all recommendations. While the inquiry addressed broader custody concerns, it did not focus specifically on Ms. Iman’s case. She criticized the review as a token gesture that did not facilitate her access to missing footage or lead to justice against alleged perpetrators.

Representatives for Mr. Burnham stated he supported a thorough independent investigation and has acted swiftly following media attention to improve custody conditions, including ending so-called "welfare" strip searches. Greater Manchester Police acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations, confirming the case’s referral to the IOPC and the implementation of reforms recommended by the Baird review.

The IOPC confirmed its investigation report has been finalized and said it has offered to meet with Ms. Iman to discuss the findings.

As Mr. Burnham prepares to contest the Labour leadership following a by-election on June 18, his handling of this case and other policy positions have come under intensified examination.