Police Constable Lydia Ward said to Sky News after an attacker was jailed for assaulting her at Manchester Airport in July 2024 [1].

The case has sparked a broader debate regarding the suitability of women in law enforcement. Ward used her platform to reject the notion that gender affects an officer's ability to serve the public.

Ward suffered a broken nose during the attack [1]. The assailant, Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 21 [4], was sentenced to three and a half years in prison [2, 4]. While some reports suggest two officers were assaulted [4], Ward's account focuses on the personal impact of the incident and the subsequent public discourse.

Speaking with Sky News reporter Greg Milam, Ward said she was frustrated that the assault was being used to politicize the role of women in the police force. The incident occurred while she was performing her duties at the airport [1].

"I don’t understand why anyone would question whether women should serve in the police," Ward said [1].

Ward also addressed the attacker directly during the legal process. "I urge him to show remorse," Ward said [2].

Reports regarding the attack vary on the number of suspects involved. Some sources identify Mohammed Fahir Amaaz as the sole attacker [2], while other reports mention a second individual, Muhammad Amaad, as being accused of assault [1]. The court ultimately sentenced Amaaz to the 3.5-year term [4].

“"I don’t understand why anyone would question whether women should serve in the police."”

This incident highlights the intersection of workplace violence and gender politics within the UK police force. By speaking out, Ward is challenging the narrative that physical vulnerability in female officers justifies their exclusion from frontline duties, framing the assault as a criminal act rather than a critique of gender-based policing capabilities.