New footage from a bystander shows a man appearing to be punched and kicked as officers pin him to the ground before handcuffing him.
The video, obtained exclusively by Manchester Evening News, shows a man on the ground at a bus stop in a terminal at Manchester Airport before being pinned down by the police force. In the clip, one officer appears to be hitting the man with his hand four times, then kicking him twice in his side. Other officers then appear to help hold him down as the man was struck.
The video was filmed by a holidaymaker and is reported to have been recorded around 1pm on Sunday (December 29).
Greater Manchester Police have responded to the incident. They 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 Unit. CCTV footage and the officer’s body worn cameras will be assessed, they added.
Manchester Evening News reports that police were called to the bus station at the airport on Sunday due to reports of a drunk and disorderly male. He was allegedly refused entry onto a bus, as well as causing a disturbance to other passengers.
It is understood that, when an officer arrived at the scene, the man resisted arrest and was restrained as other officers were then called to help.
The footage appears to show the force struggling to arrest the man, with one officer holding handcuffs. He then appears to hit the man with his hands four times in the stomach, with the same officer kicking him twice after.
One officer appears to be holding down the man’s head, while a third person appears to be pinning his feet down.
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, December 29, 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.”
The incident comes five months after footage showed another incident at Manchester Airport where different police officers and members of the public were in an altercation. 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.