Greater Manchester Police will conduct their own investigation after video footage appeared to show police officers kneeling on, punching, and kicking a man while pinned to the ground during an arrest at Manchester Airport.
The force has been in contact with the watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) about the incident. However today it was announced GMP’s Professional Standards Department would carry out an inquiry to establish if the use of force was proportionate and reasonable.
The clip, filmed by a holidaymaker and sent to the MEN, appears to show a man on the ground at one of the bus stops in the terminal.
In the footage, an officer appears to hit the man with his hands four times and kick him twice in the stomach, with the man appearing to be struck further times by other officers. The incident was said to have been recorded on Sunday December 29 at 1pm.
The M.E.N understands that police had initially been called to the bus station at the airport on Sunday to reports of a drunk and disorderly male who was refused entry onto a bus and was causing a disturbance
An officer is understood to have arrived to arrest the man, who resisted and was restrained, with other officers then called. One officer is seen in the clip holding down the man’s head, with the other seen pinning down his feet.
The third officer can be seen kneeling on the man, before appearing to strike him four more times. Another officer, seen to be holding the man’s head onto the ground, then appears to use his other hand to hit him in the face, before the man raises his hand as onlookers watch.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “We can confirm the incident involving Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers and a member of the public at the bus terminal of Manchester Airport on Sunday 29 December 2024 will be investigated by GMP’s Professional Standards Department (PSD).
“When we became aware of footage from the day circulating on social media we made contact with GMP to find out whether it had received any relevant complaints or identified any conduct issues that would require a referral to us.
“We were informed by GMP that it was their view the incident did not meet the criteria for a mandatory or voluntary referral and no complaints had been received.
“After careful assessment of the available information and GMP’s rationale for not referring the matter we agreed that a local investigation carried out by the force’s PSD was appropriate.
“We appreciate the concerns people may have after viewing the footage of the incident and it’s right that an investigation is carried out to determine whether the officers’ use of force was proportionate and reasonable in the circumstances.
“GMP’s Deputy Chief Constable has assured us he is committed to ensuring a thorough and detailed examination of this incident is carried out.”
A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson told the MEN last week: “We have concluded our initial assessment, and we are in contact with the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Our Professional Standards Directorate has met with the man involved who is well and does not wish to make a formal complaint. He remains on police bail.”
The man being held on the ground by police in the incident on December 29th
(Image: Submitted)
GMP said they ‘understand the concerns around the use of force shown on the clip’ and it is being assessed by the force’s Professional Standards Directorate. CCTV footage of the officers’ body-worn cameras will be checked, they added.
Deputy Chief Constable Terry Woods QPM said: “We have completed an initial review of all available footage, including the officers’ body worn video, in relation to the arrest of a man at Manchester Airport on Sunday 29 December 2024.
“We have also spoken to the man arrested in respect of the officers’ conduct. This has informed our decision that the incident does not meet the conditions to refer this to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. However, it will still be thoroughly investigated by my Professional Standards Directorate.”
No sanctions have currently been imposed on any of the three officers involved in the arrest.