Police have been filmed allegedly ‘kicking and punching’ a man arrested at Manchester Airport as he is pinned to the ground.
In the clip, filmed by a holidaymaker and sent to the M.E.N, an officer appears to hit the man with his hands four times and kick him twice in the stomach. The man is then seen being 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 28). Greater Manchester Police said they “understand the concerns around the use of force shown on the clip” and confirmed that the footage being assessed by the force’s Professional Standards Unit.
They added that CCTV and the officer’s body worn cameras will also be analysed. 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.
According to the M.E.N, 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 the ensuing struggle, an officer is seen in the clip holding handcuffs.
A passer-by caught the arrest on camera at Manchester Airport that appears to show police officers striking the man
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.
An 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. A short struggle between the officers and the man on the ground then follows.
The man was later arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly. 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.
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police 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.”
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