by The new solicitor representing the Rochdale family at the center of the Manchester Airport arrest storm says he has spoken to the police watchdog about ‘making a formal complaint’. Aamer Anwar announced he was taking up the case on Monday (July 29), after Akhmed Yakoob ‘stepped aside’.
The move came after the Manchester Evening News released new footage over the weekend, which showed violent scenes that emerged moments before an officer appeared to kick a man in the head. Mr Anwar insists the footage released does not show ‘exactly what the police did’.
He also questioned why Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham was shown the full CCTV of the incident in front of the family. In a statement issued this afternoon (August 1) regarding the family involved, Mr Anwar said: “I have now spoken to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) about making a formal complaint against officers from Greater Police. Manchester.”
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He added: “We also seek to understand the legal basis on which the full CCTV was shown to Andy Burnham and to whom. The repeated attempts by so-called ‘police sources’ to spin a false story or partial context to the IOPC investigation do not help.
“Leaked footage does not show exactly what the police did, how the incident unfolded, or the entire behavior of the officers after the incident in all parts of the airport, including after the arrests. Regarding CCTV leaks, we understand that they will also be part of their investigation, but while it may be obvious who would benefit from such a cynical and partial leak, proving who the person is individual or the ‘institution’ is likely to be impossible.”
Protests erupted in Rochdale and Manchester city center after a video was circulated of a police officer allegedly kicking and stamping on a man as he lay face down during an arrest at Manchester Airport on 23 July. A Greater Manchester Police constable was informed that he was under criminal charges. attack investigation because of the incident, the IOPC said last week.
Mr Burnham urged people to ‘step back’ and allow the authorities to carry out their investigations after Fhir published a new film designed to show the pre-emption of the incident. The video appeared to show a group of people standing at ticket machines in terminal two and a man in a light blue suit in front of one of the machines.
It appeared that male and female officers attempted to restrain two men who were involved in a series of strikes and punches before one man was tasered. An officer and a man in blue appear to fight until the latter lies still on the ground, face down, with a woman kneeling at his side.
The officer then appears to kick and then stomp on his head, which was shown in the already widely circulated footage. Mr Anwar says that if family members are involved in crime, ‘then they must be subjected to due process’.
He argued that there could be ‘no legal justification’ for using ‘excessive, disproportionate and potentially lethal force against an incapacitated and unthreatened civilian’. Mr Anwar said the family hoped that all material relating to the incident and the resulting cameras would be retained, ‘especially those taken by the detainees to other parts of the airport’.
An IOPC spokesperson told the FIRs: “Following discussions with those involved in the incident at Manchester Airport, we are in the process of documenting a number of complaints. We will be asking GMP to record and transmit the allegations, to We will consider them as part of our independent investigation. We will provide further updates when we are able to do so.”
In a statement issued last week, IOPC regional director Catherine Bates confirmed that the GMP constable would be interviewed under criminal caution. She added that the IOPC had spoken to the family involved and was due to meet with community leaders in Rochdale ‘to listen to their concerns and explain our role’.
GMP announced that an officer had been suspended this morning after the original video footage was widely circulated last week. The force renewed its appeal for information about the incident at the weekend.
A spokesman said on Saturday: “GMP are investigating and appealing for witnesses in relation to three incidents which took place on the evening of Tuesday, 23 July 2024, in terminal two of Manchester Airport (T2). Witnesses are asked for information, images or footage to the Public Portal: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/06GMP23S59-PO1
“The first incident is an altercation between passengers from Qatar Airways flight QR023, which arrived at 7.20pm. The altercation may have occurred during or after the flight in the T2 baggage hall. The second incident is was a violent altercation involving members of the public in T2 Starbucks at around 8.22pm.
“The third incident is an assault on three police officers which occurred in the pay area of the T2 car park at 8.28pm. As a result of this the three officers received head injuries, including a broken nose. The IOPC is conducting an independent investigation into use of force by GMP Officers who followed these events directly and shown in the footage on social media.”
After FEAR published the new footage at the weekend, Mr Burnham said: “As I said on Thursday, this is a complex case with two sides to it. That’s why I’ve urged people not to go into confidence of judgement.
“After the events before the film that people have seen, four people were arrested and are now on bail from the police. It is a matter of great concern that we have not been able to put more videos before the public but that is why that this is a bond. live investigation.
“People must now step back and allow the IOPC’s criminal investigation into the officer’s conduct to proceed, alongside a parallel GMP investigation into other possible offences, so that the full picture can be presented. As all these investigations are ongoing, it would not be appropriate to comment further.”
Mr Burnham’s office has been contacted for further comment. GMP declined to comment further this afternoon. The family and their solicitor are expected to attend a press conference in Manchester on August 6, the Press Association reports.
