A video of an armed police officer kicking and stamping on a man’s head has plunged Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the country’s second largest force, into crisis. The incident at Manchester Airport on Tuesday night has led to widespread condemnation. Protestors have gathered outside Rochdale police station, with some in the crowd chanting: ‘GMP shame on you’.
The footage showed a uniformed officer holding a Taser over a man lying on the floor before kicking him twice
An officer has been suspended and the force has referred itself to the policing watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct. Feelings are understandably running high locally, but investigators must be allowed time to assess the available evidence before the rush to judgment.
The footage showed a uniformed officer holding a Taser over a man lying on the floor before kicking him twice as his colleagues shout at onlookers to stand back. In the clip, a man can be heard shouting ‘stop kicking people’.

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