The police watchdog has launched a criminal investigation into a police officer after a suspect was kicked in the head while being restrained on the floor of Manchester Airport. An officer has been suspended from duty after a video emerged appearing to show Mohammed Fahir, 19, being stamped on while lying down. Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed an officer is under criminal investigation for assault. The officer was also served with a disciplinary notice to inform him he was being investigated for potential gross misconduct for a number of alleged breaches of police professional standards, including his use of force. Paul Waugh, the Labour MP for Rochdale, who has met the family, said: “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 family’s solicitor, Akhmed Yakoob, said a CT scan had revealed Mr Fahir had a cyst on his brain. The events prompted angry protests on Thursday, with roads and tram lines blocked in Manchester city centre.
Manchester Airport incident – latest: Police officer who kicked man in video faces criminal investigation
Police officer appears to kick man in face at Manchester Airport
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The police watchdog has launched a criminal investigation into a police officer after a suspect was kicked in the head while being restrained on the floor of Manchester Airport.
An officer has been suspended from duty after a video emerged appearing to show Mohammed Fahir, 19, being stamped on while lying down.
Watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed an officer is under criminal investigation for assault.
The officer was also served with a disciplinary notice to inform him he was being investigated for potential gross misconduct for a number of alleged breaches of police professional standards, including his use of force, a spokesman said.
Paul Waugh, the Labour MP for Rochdale, who has met the family, said: “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 family’s solicitor, Akhmed Yakoob, said a CT scan had revealed Mr Fahir had a cyst on his brain.
The events prompted angry protests on Thursday, with roads and tram lines blocked in Manchester city centre.
Key Points
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Everyone has right to fair hearing, says police federation
The Greater Manchester Police Federation said everyone had the right to a fair hearing “where all sides of the story are told and context is provided”.
“As their staff association, we are supporting the officer concerned, and all of our colleagues who were involved in this incident, including those who were injured,” a spokesman said after the officer involved was suspended from duty.
“We would also like to thank the many members of the public who have contacted us offering support for our hard-working colleagues doing a difficult and dangerous job. It is appreciated.”
Jane Dalton27 July 2024 05:00
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Activists plan to block Manchester airport
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.
Jane Dalton27 July 2024 03:00
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Extremists could exploit events, MP warns
Labour’s Rochdale MP has warned that “extremists” could try to exploit events at Manchester Airport.
Paul Waugh said: “Extremists of all kinds are going to try and exploit this and hijack it for their own ends and that is the last thing this town needs.
“So, it’s my job to make sure that that family, who have been quite dignified in their response to this, get their wishes, which is to see calm prevail, but also for justice to prevail.”
Asked what he expected to happen next, Mr Waugh said: “I really hope that if there are any protests that they are peaceful, but, that the family’s wishes are adhered to.
“People should listen to them. They’re at the centre of this, at the end of the day, and they are the people who say ‘look, please let us just get on and pursue the independent process now’.
“That’s our focus, as well as making sure that they get the right medical help for their family members.”
Jane Dalton27 July 2024 01:00
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Officer faces investigation for several alleged breaches of standards
The police constable at the centre of the row over a man being kicked while restrained on the ground has been served with a disciplinary notice to tell him he is being investigated for potential gross misconduct for a number of alleged breaches of police professional standards, including his use of force.
Video of the event appeared to show the officer also strike a second man.
This is as well as the Independent Office for Police Conduct opening a criminal investigation for assault on the first man.
Jane Dalton26 July 2024 23:01
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Opinion: How the police can restore trust
“Two-tier policing” works both ways. The answer is to focus on each incident separately, writes former chief crown prosecutor Nazir Afzal:
Jane Dalton26 July 2024 21:02
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Police chief says shock and upset a source of profound regret
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.
Jane Dalton26 July 2024 19:51
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Activists plan to block flights from and roads to Manchester airport
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.
Jane Dalton26 July 2024 19:07
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‘I am repeating the call for calm’ – Burnham
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.
Joe Middleton26 July 2024 16:11
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Andy Burnham press conference
Greater Manchester mayor is delivering a presser on the latest update into the incident at the city’s airport.
Joe Middleton26 July 2024 16:02
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BREAKING: Criminal probe launched into officer who kicked man by police watchdog
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.”
Joe Middleton26 July 2024 15:16
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/manchester-airport-police-incident-video-cyst-brain-news-today-b2586437.html