Manchester Airport: Police officer under criminal investigation for assault following emergence of video

A Greater Manchester Police constable is under criminal investigation for assault after a video emerged of a man being kicked and stamped on as he lay on the floor at Manchester Airport.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has also told the constable that he is being investigated for potential gross misconduct for a number of alleged breaches of professional standards, including his use of force.

The watchdog previously said it had received a second referral from Greater Manchester Police. The first relates to the use of force against a man detained on the ground and the second relates to the same officers use of Pava spray on another man at the airport.

IOPC Regional Director Catherine Bates said: “We can confirm we are conducting a criminal investigation into the use of force during events which took place on July 23 at Manchester Airport. We are arranging to interview a police constable under criminal caution as soon as possible.

“I have today met one of the men who was involved and his family members to outline our investigation and we will continue to update them and Greater Manchester Police as our enquiries progress. We will be speaking to the man involved in the second incident as soon as we can.

“The family has asked me to reiterate their call for peace and wish to stress that they do not condone any acts of violence as a result of this incident.

“We are meeting with a number of community leaders in Rochdale this afternoon to listen to their concerns and explain our role.

“Our investigation continues to gather relevant evidence and will be following a number of lines of enquiry. We will provide further updates when we are in a position to do so.”

The family at the centre of the Manchester Airport police controversy have made an appeal for calm after a video appeared to show a man being kicked on the floor by an officer.

Rochdale Labour MP Paul Waugh told BBC Breakfast: “They have got no political agenda whatsoever.

“They are not going to attend any of these protests and they wanted me to issue an appeal for calm among all different types of communities in Rochdale.

“We have a history of unfortunate division in our town and we do not want to go back to those days.

“Their agenda is simply to find justice after this incident.”

He added: “More importantly, they are acutely aware there are extremists from all sides who are keen to hijack this incident and use it for their own ends – the family are not interested in that at all.”