Rochdale MP Paul Waugh has issued a new statement in light of the video of the Manchester Airport arrest, saying both sides of the incident are “shocking”.
The Labour MP had already met the family involved in the incident in the Terminal 2 car park last Tuesday (July 23). He said the incident was part of a “wider context”, while claiming the family were “deeply traumatised” by what had happened.
He said those involved were “shocked by what they witnessed” after footage emerged showing a man being punched in the head by a Greater Manchester Police officer during an arrest. On Saturday, the Manchester Evening News obtained exclusive new footage – which appeared to capture the period leading up to that moment.
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The video shows scenes of violence between a police officer, two policewomen and two men. In the video, a police officer appears to grab a man’s hands in an attempt to subdue him before the officer and the men punch him.
One of the men, dressed in light blue, who had been initially arrested, later broke free and punched the officers several times. The video then shows both women being punched in the head and face, with one of them falling to the ground.
A police officer then pointed a stun gun at the man before kicking and punching him in the head as he lay on the ground. In a new statement posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday, Mr Waugh expressed his “shock” at the assault by the two officers and the officer’s kicking of the man to the ground.
The Labour MP stressed that “anyone who commits criminal attacks on our police should face the full force of the law”. He added that “no police officer should be above the law”.
In full, he said: “When I met the Deputy Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police last Thursday, I made it clear that anyone who commits criminal attacks on our police should face the full force of the law. Police had reported that their officers had been the victims of a “violent assault” while attempting to make an arrest at Manchester Airport and one officer had been left with a broken nose.
“I have raised my concerns about the officer and others injured in the incident at Manchester Airport, which I have consistently expressed. I have also repeatedly stressed that the police do a difficult job every day to keep us safe and that they themselves know that their officers must be held to a high standard of conduct in carrying out their duties – and that no officer should be above the law.
“The footage of a police officer punching and stamping on a man on the ground is indeed shocking, and it was right that the Independent Office for Police Conduct intervened swiftly. The video of the officers being attacked is also deeply shocking, and the public will rightly demand that those responsible are brought to justice.
“That is why it is important, as I said last night, that anyone with information contacts Greater Manchester Police about the three incidents that preceded the footage people saw last week. (The public portal is https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP23S59-PO1…) All our communities in Rochdale are united in a firm belief in the rule of law, that the criminal justice system must follow the evidence and that offenders must be punished appropriately.
“It was crucial that the original footage, which went viral, did not lead to wider violence, and I am pleased that after meeting the brother and parents of those involved in this incident, their calls for calm and not to take part in further protests have been heard in Rochdale. A community meeting in Rochdale on Friday with Andy Burnham, his deputy Kate Green and local police underlined this message and many local people played a key role in keeping the peace.
“I said last week that ‘this incident is part of a wider context’ and that ‘it is important that the police investigation and the investigation into police conduct now gather all the facts’. As I said to the Deputy Chief Constable last week, attacks on our police officers and emergency services are completely unacceptable.
“The police also know that they have a particular duty to maintain high standards of conduct. It is important that both investigations are allowed to continue, whatever the extent of the evidence.”
Andy Burnham yesterday urged people “not to rush to judgment” after the new footage emerged. He said politicians in particular “must lead by example by not contributing to public fury”.
It was also revealed yesterday that the lawyer representing the family involved has announced that he is withdrawing from the case. Akhmed Yakoob, dubbed the “TikTok lawyer,” said he had “recommended a lawyer” to the family involved.
“The media tried to sabotage me, it’s not the first time they’ve done that,” he said in a social media clip. “They made this whole thing a personal matter and not a police misconduct.”
“After consulting with the family, I have decided to step aside for the time being and have recommended that the family seek legal advice. But I will monitor this closely.
“I want to make it clear that I am not in favor of violence, whether it is by police or civilians. Always remember that.”
A GMP officer has been informed that he is under criminal investigation for assault following the incident, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said on Friday. The IOPC stressed that this does not necessarily mean criminal proceedings will follow.
But the watchdog confirmed that once its investigation was complete, a decision would be made on whether to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service. GMP has appealed for information about three incidents that allegedly preceded the events captured in the video.
The first incident they are investigating is an “altercation between passengers” on Qatar Airways flight QR023, from Doha to Manchester, which arrived at 7.20pm. “The altercation may have taken place during the flight or afterwards in the baggage area of T2,” they said.
They are also investigating a “violent disturbance involving members of the public in the T2 Starbucks” at around 8.22pm. This was then followed by “an assault on three police officers which occurred in the payment area of the T2 car park at 8.28pm”, they said.
“The three police officers suffered head injuries and, among other things, a broken nose,” they added. The police have opened a public portal where information, images and videos can be shared.
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