Video footage has surfaced appearing to show police officers kneeling on, punching and kicking a man as he is pinned to the ground during an arrest at Manchester Airport.
The clip, filmed by a holidaymaker and sent to the Manchester Evening News, 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 fellow officers.
The incident was said to have been recorded at the airport’s bus station at around 1pm on Sunday (December 29). In response, Greater Manchester Police said they ‘understand the concerns around the use of force shown on the clip’ and it is being assessed by the force Professional Standards Unit. CCTV footage and the officer’s body worn cameras will be assessed, they added.
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It comes five months after video footage of a different incident involving police officers and members of the public was previously shared widely online in July this year and prompted protests. Earlier this month, two men were told to appear in court in relation to the July incident but no officers will face charges, the CPS said.
Police called to airport bus station
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 multiple other officers then called.
During what appears to be a struggle, an officer is seen in the clip holding handcuffs. He appears to hit the man with his hands four times in the stomach. The same officer then appears to kick him twice, before appearing to punch him three more times.
Police were filmed making the arrest at Manchester Airport
One officer is seen in the footage holding down the man’s head, with another seen pinning down his feet. The third officer can then be seen in the clip 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 on.
Police filmed making the arrest at Manchester Airport
There is then a short struggle between the officers and the man on the ground. The man was later arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly, the Manchester Evening News has learned. He was not arrested for resisting arrest.
The witness, who was on holiday in the UK from Norway, saw the incident unfold while sat on a coach from Liverpool to Manchester on Sunday afternoon and filmed it on his mobile phone.
GMP statement
A GMP spokesperson said: “We are currently reviewing a video published online showing the arrest of a man at Manchester Airport’s bus terminal yesterday afternoon (Sunday 29 December 2024).
“We understand the concerns around the use of force shown on the clip and our professional standards unit is assessing all available footage including the officers’ body worn cameras and CCTV.”
It is understood no members of the public or the suspect made a complaint.