Manchester Airport incident – latest: Police officer who kicked man in video faces criminal investigation

Greater Manchester Police have said it is “a source of profound regret that this week’s incident at Manchester Airport has caused shock and upset” in some communities.

Some activists have called for the force to be disbanded.

Chief Constable Stephen Watson said in a statement: “Throughout this week, senior officers have been meeting with community representatives to ensure their voices are heard and this will continue – we are at one with the best instincts of those engaged in appealing for calm.”

He said officers were committed to providing the fullest practical help to watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

Protesters against police actions are said to be planning to stop flights taking off from Manchester on Saturday and block roads to the airport.

The activists are said to be intending to interrupt airport functions, by blocking the departures entrance, for 12 hours, from 1pm to 1am.

They say they will carry out their action until their demands are met. Those demands are that all officers seen in the video are suspended and that the officer who kicked the suspect on the ground be “arrested and charged imminently”.

The suspect’s family have appealed for calm and appealed for extremists not to hijack the issue.

However, activists drew up a warning poster, which was published on social media by lawyer Gillani Syed.

Mr Syed said he did not personally support the action, nor endorse any actions that disrupt public order. “My intention in sharing this message is solely to inform the relevant authorities and to assist individuals who are travelling tomorrow in making the necessary arrangements,” he wrote.

Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has repeated the call for calm after two nights of protests over the Manchester airport incident.

Mr Burnham said the situation was a “complicated matter” and that people should not “jump to conclusions”. He added that the investigation into the incident will proceed and people should not be “second guessing” what happened.

He said that what the city did not want was people “exploiting” the situation to serve their own political interests or agenda.

Greater Manchester mayor is delivering a presser on the latest update into the incident at the city’s airport.

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.”

A police officer filmed kicking a man in the head at Manchester airport also pepper sprayed and wrestled another man to the ground in a separate incident.

The police officer was filmed stamping on a suspect as he was lying face down on the floor at Manchester Airport Terminal 2 on Tuesday.

In the subsequent furore the officer was suspended by Greater Manchester Police and a referral has now been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for a full independent investigation.

There has been a second night of protests over the man kicked and stamped on by a police officer at Manchester Airport.

Roads and tram lines were blocked in Manchester city centre on Thursday night by people angry at the incident which has led to a Greater Manchester Police officer being suspended.

The family of the man are particularly shocked by what happened because some of their family members are police officers, newly elected Rochdale Labour MP Paul Waugh said after speaking to them.

The family at the centre of the Manchester Airport controversy are “traumatised”, their MP has said.

Paul Waugh, the Labour MP for Rochdale met the family after video footage appeared to show a man being kicked on the floor by a Greater Mancester Police officer in terminal two.

Mr Waugh told BBC Breakfast on Friday (26 July): “It’s clear from talking to them that they are traumatised. Lots of people saw that video clip and they are distressed by it.

“The police themselves said it was a distressing clip but just imagine if that was your brother or your son in that clip; you can imagine how distraught they are.”

Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is now investigating.

In a statement, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “The Deputy Mayor and I have now had the opportunity to meet with both the Home Secretary and the regional director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).

“It was agreed that the IOPC investigation now under way will be carried out as swiftly as possible, will involve community stakeholders and will be truly independent.

“The precise arrangements will be set out by the IOPC.

“I hope this provides further reassurance to people that all the right steps are being taken, that all relevant issues will be fully considered and gives people confidence in the process as it moves forward.”