Greater Manchester Police will investigate an incident involving officers at Manchester Airport after disturbing footage surfaced online
Manchester: So, there was this pretty intense situation at Manchester Airport. Some video popped up showing police officers really going at it with a guy during an arrest. It looked rough, with officers kneeling on him, punching, and kicking while he was on the ground.
Now, Greater Manchester Police (GMP) are stepping in to look into it. They’ve been in touch with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) about what went down. But today, they announced that their own Professional Standards Department will handle the investigation to see if the force used was fair and reasonable.
The footage, which a holidaymaker recorded and sent to the MEN, shows the man at a bus stop in the terminal. In the clip, you can see one officer hitting him multiple times and kicking him in the stomach. It all happened on Sunday, December 29, around 1 PM.
Apparently, the police were called to the airport because this guy was drunk and causing a scene after being denied entry onto a bus. When the officer arrived to arrest him, he didn’t go quietly, and that’s when things escalated.
In the video, one officer is holding the guy’s head down while another pins his feet. Then, a third officer kneels on him and strikes him several times. It’s pretty shocking to watch, especially with onlookers around.
The IOPC confirmed they’re aware of the incident and that GMP’s Professional Standards Department will investigate. They mentioned that they reached out to GMP to see if there were any complaints or issues that needed their attention.
GMP said they didn’t think the incident required a referral to the IOPC, and no complaints had been filed. They’re looking into it locally, which seems to be the right move given the footage.
People are understandably concerned after seeing the video, and it’s good that there’s going to be an investigation to figure out if the officers acted appropriately.
GMP’s Deputy Chief Constable has promised a thorough review of the situation. They’ve already talked to the man involved, who’s okay and doesn’t want to file a formal complaint. He’s still on police bail, though.
GMP is aware of the worries surrounding the use of force in the video, and they’re checking all available footage, including body-worn camera recordings from the officers.
Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods said they’ve done an initial review of everything and have spoken to the man arrested. They decided it didn’t need to go to the IOPC, but they’ll still investigate it thoroughly.
As of now, no officers have faced any consequences for their actions during the arrest.
