Police who took kebab break before arena bomb disciplined

Two police officers who took a break to get a kebab on the night of the Manchester Arena attack have been handed final written warnings.

In 2022, the inquiry into the attack heard British Transport Police (BTP) constable Jessica Bullough and community support officer Mark Renshaw returned less than an hour before Salman Abedi detonated his bomb on 22 May 2017, killing himself and 22 victims.

It was also told Abedi may have been challenged if a BTP officer had been present.

An Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation, which followed a complaint by victims' families, found the pair should be disciplined for the "timing and length" of their break and for not following instructions from a senior officer.

A 2022 report by inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders into security arrangements at the venue concluded there were “significant failures” by all five BTP officers on duty at the arena on the night of the attack.

The five on duty had been instructed by their sergeant to ensure at least one was present in the arena's City Room foyer, which leads into Victoria railway station, when the concert by Ariana Grade ended, but they failed to follow orders.

Families of some of the victims said they were "deeply angered and upset" by the officers' actions.

The inquiry was told at 19:27 BST, PC Bullough and PCSO Renshaw, who has since become a PC, drove five miles from the station to south Manchester to get a kebab, and were off duty for two hours and nine minutes.

It meant no officers were patrolling the area around the arena when Abedi, who set off his bomb at 22:31, made his “final approach” to the foyer.

The inquiry heard that if a BTP officer had been present, Abedi may have been challenged after a member of the public reported concerns to stewards about half an hour before the explosion.

It was also told the officers were praised for running into the foyer to help those injured after the blast.

The IOPC investigation found PC Bullough and PCSO Renshaw should be disciplined for the "timing and length of their refreshment breaks", as well as failing to follow instructions from a senior officer.

A misconduct meeting found the case proven against both individuals and they were given final written warnings which will remain in force for two years.

The police watchdog said BTP had accepted it should apologise to the families of the victims for the shortcomings in policing on the night.

It said it had found “no persuasive evidence” to suggest longer breaks had been taken at other events at the arena and the evidence "showed BTP officers were given clear instructions about the lengths of refreshment breaks".

IOPC regional director Mel Palmer said while nothing could "bring back the lives lost or make up for the pain and suffering experienced by the bereaved", it was important that police actions were "thoroughly scrutinised", mistakes "acknowledged" and lessons "learned".

"That is why we have carefully reviewed the steps taken by BTP to address the areas for improvement identified in the inquiry report, and also recommended that the force apologises to the complainants," she said.

"This investigation has also ensured the two individuals whose actions fell below the standards expected by the public, and who ignored instructions from a senior officer, have now been held accountable."

The IOPC said another BTP officer who was the subject of the complaint had retired before the investigation began, but the "evidence indicated there would have been no case to answer for either misconduct or gross misconduct had they still been serving".

A provisional decision has been made in relation to another PSCO and will be finalised at a later date.

Three law firms which represented families affected by the attack, Hudgell Solicitors, Slater & Gordon and Broudie Jackson Canter, issued a joint statement in response to the ruling.

They said: "Understandably, many of the families of those that lost their lives and who were injured in the Manchester Arena attack are deeply upset and angered by the actions of PC Jessica Bullough and PC Mark Renshaw on the night of the atrocity.

"No action will bring their loved ones back, or undo their injuries but the choices made by these individuals on that awful night cannot and should not go ignored."

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