The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched a major investigation into allegations of gross misconduct involving eleven individuals based at Charing Cross police station in central London. The probe, initiated following a mandatory conduct referral from the Metropolitan Police, involves nine serving officers, one former officer, and a serving designated detention officer. The watchdog confirmed that one constable is also under criminal investigation for allegedly perverting the course of justice.

Allegations against the officers include excessive use of force, making discriminatory and misogynistic comments, and failing to report or challenge inappropriate behavior. The incidents are said to have occurred both on and off duty between August 2024 and January 2025. In response to the allegations, the Metropolitan Police has suspended nine officers pending the outcome of the investigation, demonstrating the seriousness with which the force is treating the matter.

IOPC Director Amanda Rowe stated that her organization is 'treating this matter extremely seriously' and has deployed a team of investigators to carry out inquiries. The investigation will involve analyzing a significant amount of CCTV footage from the station's custody suite, with the watchdog acknowledging that the volume of evidence and number of individuals involved means the process will take considerable time to complete thoroughly.

The investigation has gained additional prominence as the allegations are scheduled to feature in a Panorama documentary airing on BBC One and iPlayer. The IOPC is appealing to both current and former Charing Cross staff members, as well as members of the public, for any information that could assist their ongoing probe into the conduct of officers at one of London's busiest police stations.

Global medical technology company Convatec has announced plans to establish a new flagship research and development hub in Manchester as part of a £500 million investment in the United Kingdom. The FTSE100-listed firm, which specializes in products for chronic wounds, diabetes, urinary incontinence, and stomas, will relocate its R&D operations from Deeside to Bruntwood SciTech's CityLabs 4.0 facility, scheduled to open in 2027. This strategic move represents a significant commitment to the UK's life sciences sector at a time when several other pharmaceutical companies have been shifting investments overseas.

The new Manchester facility will become one of the largest centers in Convatec's global network, spanning 125,000 square feet across seven storeys in the £42 million CityLabs 4.0 building. Located on Hathersage Road facing the Manchester Royal Infirmary, St Mary's and Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, the state-of-the-art facility will focus on research in four key therapeutic areas: advanced wound care, ostomy care, continence care, and infusion care. The company cited Manchester's "vibrant life sciences ecosystem, which includes leading universities, hospitals, and research institutions" as the primary reason for selecting the location.

Approximately 200 staff will be employed at the new Manchester hub, with most positions transferring from Convatec's existing R&D operation in Deeside, North Wales, which has served as a major research center since 1996. The company emphasized that no redundancies are planned as a consequence of the relocation and that the Deeside manufacturing site will remain unaffected, continuing to employ around 400 workers. The new Manchester facility is approximately 50% larger than the current Deeside operation and has capacity for up to 250 employees, allowing for future expansion.

Convatec's investment comes as part of a broader $1 billion worldwide R&D commitment, with the UK portion representing nearly half of this global initiative. The company, which generated $2.3 billion in revenue last year, typically allocates approximately 5% of its annual revenue to research and development. The relocation to Manchester positions Convatec to leverage the city's concentration of medical research institutions, including neighboring organizations such as the University of Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, biotech company QIAGEN, and MAC Clinical Research, strengthening its pipeline of new products addressing unmet needs in chronic care.