A MANCHESTER cafe owner claims Greater Manchester Police (GMP) offered him financial benefits and to turn a “blind eye” to certain low-level offences if he informed on Palestine Action.

Shams Sadiq told the Guardian that he was offered the inducements on May 15 when he went to pick up electronic devices confiscated by police during his arrest over alleged offences linked to the proscribed direct action group last year.

“They said to me: ‘We need your help. Look, there’s benefits in helping us,’” he said.

Asked if this would be financial or with taxes, they reportedly replied: “Oh, we can help with things like that… there’s other benefits, too.

“We’re not saying you can go out and commit a serious crime, but we can turn a blind eye to certain things.”

He understood “help” to mean “with their investigations [into Palestine Action] because they said I am involved and maybe [could] be an informer.”

Mr Sadiq, who remains under investigation in relation to a 2024 alleged Palestine Action-related offence, said that four days before the offer, he had been questioned – but not arrested – at Manchester airport under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act after returning from holiday in Morocco.

He said two officers at the airport had questioned him about Palestine Action, Iran and his financial situation, including his mortgage, and his electronic devices were taken away again.

Simon Pook, of Robert Lizar solicitors, said he was making formal representations to GMP on Mr Sadiq’s behalf, describing the force’s conduct as reminiscent of that of the British state during the Northern Ireland “Troubles.”

GMP said it was unable to comment.