Manchester Airport Police is a division of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responsible for policing Manchester Airport. They are tasked with maintaining security, responding to incidents, and enforcing laws within the airport premises. See more here.
On Tuesday, July 23, 2024, an incident occurred at Manchester Airport Terminal 2 involving Manchester Airport Police officers. According to GMP, officers were called to reports of a disturbance between members of the public. During the attempt to arrest one of the suspects, three officers were assaulted, with one female officer sustaining a broken nose.
Footage of the incident, which has been widely shared online, shows an armed police officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man who was lying on the ground. The officer is also seen aiming his Taser at bystanders who were shouting at him to stop. Another individual, who had his hands on his head, was kicked and punched by the same officer as he appeared to comply with orders to lie down.
GMP acknowledged the concerns raised about the officer’s conduct and stated that their professional standards unit is currently reviewing the incident. The Independent Office for Police Conduct has also been informed and is making inquiries, although the incident has not yet been referred to them.
The incident has sparked outrage and condemnation from various individuals and organizations. Former chief prosecutor Nasir Afzal stated that he found “no justification for the kick in the head” or the overall aggression. Trade union leader Howard Beckett characterized the incident as “the most brutal of police assaults” and labeled it “thuggery in uniforms”.
In response to the incident, GMP has stated that one officer has been removed from frontline policing duties. The force has also voluntarily referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for further investigation.
