Content warning: This article contains an image and elements which may be distressing.
An armed police officer has been been removed from frontline policing after a disturbing clip emerged which appeared to show a policeman kicking a young man’s head as he was being restrained at Manchester airport.
The footage shows the man lying on the ground as the officer proceeds to kick him in the face, before stamping on the back of his head and kneeling on his back.
Greater Manchester Police said officers were called to reports of an altercation and were attacked while attempting to make an arrest.
On Wednesday evening, Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said the video showed an event “that is truly shocking, and that people are rightly extremely concerned about”.
He added: “The use of such force in an arrest is an unusual occurrence and one that we understand creates alarm.
“One male officer has been removed from operational duties and we are making a voluntary referral of our policing response to the Independent Office of Police Conduct.”
During the incident, the man, who is dressed in a blue sweatshirt and shorts, is seen lying face down on the ground with his arms at his side, as the officer holds a taser over him while a woman wearing a headscarf kneels beside him.
The clip also shows another male officer kicking another man in the leg while he is kneeling down with his hands on top of his head, before he and another police officer restrain him.
Members of the public in the background can be heard shouting and screaming in the footage as a female officer shouts, “Get back”.
Home Office minister Dame Diana Johnson posted on X: “I am aware of disturbing footage from an incident at Manchester airport this afternoon and understand the public concern it has prompted.
“I have asked for a full update from Greater Manchester Police.”
Many people took to social media to condemn the actions of the officers, with one writing, “Why did the officer have to boot him in the face like that when he was already down?”, and another saying, “This is unacceptable and needs to be investigated”.
In a previous statement issued earlier on Tuesday, the police said they were called to an “altercation” between members of the public in Terminal 2 at around 8.25pm where police officers were attacked while attempting to make an arrest.
The statement also said: “As the attending officers were firearms officers, there was a clear risk during this assault of their firearms being taken away from them.”
Three officers were punched to the ground as they attempted to arrest the suspects, with one female officer suffering a broken nose, the statement added.
Three officers were taken to hospital for treatment, and four men were arrested at the scene for affray and assault on emergency service workers.
The police added that it acknowledges the concerns of the conduct within the video, and its “professional standards directorate are assessing this”.
Rochdale MP Paul Waugh said the man arrested is a Rochdale resident and he would meet the family tomorrow.
In a statement he said: “I have expressed my concerns directly to the Assistant Chief Constable this evening and have been in touch with Kate Green, Deputy Mayor for policing of Greater Manchester.
“It’s right that the police officer concerned has been removed from duties and that this incident has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. I expect a thorough and swift investigation.”