A sickening, cowardly act of disrespect against a cop killed in the line of duty

A street sign marking the road named in honour of an officer murdered in the line of duty have been defaced in a sickening act of disrespect. The two signs - at the entrance to Raja Ahmed Street in Miles Platting - were covered in black spray paint.

The street is named in honour of PC Raja Ahmed, a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) traffic cop killed as he tried to stop a suspected stolen car on Alan Turing Way on August 31, 1999.

His motorbike was shunted by the car into the path of an oncoming lorry. He suffered fatal injuries in the incident at the junction of Oldham Road and Queen's Road in Miles Platting.

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At the time of his death, PC Ahmed, who was also a part-time law student, had served in the force for over 14 years and had received four commendations for excellent police work. Career criminal Steven Draper, then 28 and of of Tatton Street, Ordsall, Salford, was jailed for life after being convicted of his murder.

In 2019, Manchester council announced that the street, nestled between Holland Street and the Rochdale Canal in a newly built estate, would be named after him as a 'fitting tribute to the service PC Ahmed gave to the people of Manchester and the courage he demonstrated'.

Members of his family were present at the naming ceremony with his niece Shazma Mahmood-Shakoor saying it was the 'least he deserves.' Locals woke on Thursday (October 12) to find the signs had been defaced.

One told the Manchester Evening News it isn't the first time it has happened, with a similar incident in May 2021.

Police are investigating, with officers having