A UK police officer was suspended on Thursday after a video circulating online appeared to show the officer kicking and stamping on a man’s head during an arrest. Greater Manchester Police in northwest England confirmed the suspension following a review of the incident, which occurred at Manchester Airport on Tuesday.
The video has sparked public outrage and prompted an independent investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog. The IOPC stated, “We appreciate the footage shared on social media has attracted widespread shock and concern.”
Greater Manchester Police reported that three officers were assaulted during the arrest, with one female officer suffering a broken nose and requiring hospital treatment. The footage, taken after the officers were assaulted, appears to show a police officer using excessive force against a man lying on the ground next to a woman.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, with the police acknowledging that the “use of such force in an arrest is an unusual occurrence and one that we understand creates alarm.”
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, after reviewing the full footage leading up to the incident, described it as “not a clear-cut situation.” While he acknowledged the clip was “disturbing,” he noted issues “on both sides” and mentioned an “altercation in the arrivals hall” before the filmed incident in the airport car park. Burnham called for “calm” and stressed the situation escalated quickly.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed understanding of the public’s concern over the video, and several MPs labeled the footage “disturbing.”
In the incident on Tuesday night, police arrested two men on suspicion of assault and assault of an emergency worker, among other charges. Two other men were arrested on suspicion of affray and assault of an emergency worker.
