Police have been captured on camera allegedly kneeling on, punching and kicking a man at Manchester Airport. The officers were said to be making an arrest when a man was pinned to the ground and allegedly struck.
The clip – which was filmed by a holidaymaker – appears to show a man on the ground near a bus stop at the terminal. An officer appears to hit the man with his hands four times and kick him twice in the stomach.
It seems as if the man is struck further times by other officers in the footage, obtained exclusively by the Manchester Evening News. The alleged incident is said to have taken place at about 1pm on Sunday, December 29.
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Greater Manchester Police said it ‘understands’ the concerns around the use of force shown on the clip’. It said the alleged incident is being assessed by the force professional standards unit, Manchester Evening News reports.
Footage from CCTV and the body worn cameras will be assessed, the force added. It is understood police were called to the bus station to reports of a drunk and disorderly male who was refused entry onto a bus and was ‘causing a disturbance’.
A member of the public filmed the alleged incident
(Image: MEN)
An officer is said to have arrived to arrest the man, who allegedly resisted and was restrained. Multiple other officers were then called.
During what appears to be a struggle, an officer is seen 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 it seems as if he punches him three more times. One officer can be seen in the footage apparently holding down the man’s head, while another is seen pinning down his feet.
A third officer can then be seen in the clip kneeling on the man, before appearing to strike him four more times. Another officer, who was seen to hold the man’s head to the ground, then appears to use his other hand to hit him in the face.
The man raises his hand as onlookers watch on. The clip shows that there is a short struggle between the officers and the man on the ground.
The man was later arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorder. He was not arrested for resisting arrest.
A witness, who was on holiday in the UK from Norway, saw the incident unfold while sat on a coach from Liverpool to Manchester and filmed it on his mobile phone. 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.
It comes five months after video footage of a separate incident involving police officers and members of the public was shared widely online in July. It prompted protests. Earlier this month, two men were told to appear in court in relation to the incident but no officers will face charges, the CPS said.