Bolton leaders pledge action on GMP Manchester Airport video

The now notorious video shows a man lying on the floor at the airport being kicked by Greater Manchester Police officer after an incident on Tuesday July 23.

The video sparked widespread outrage and addressing a full meeting of Bolton Council last night cabinet member for stronger communities Cllr Rabiya Jiva said a response is underway.

Cllr Jiva said: “I can assure you there is due diligence around this particular case.

“It is being escalated to the highest level, Andy Burnham’s office is being fully sighted and we will fully scrutinise and ensure public safety and confidence is restored and any malpractice or use of excessive force will be fully investigated, as any member of the public would be.”

A video has been circulating showing the incident at Manchester Airport (Image: Social Media)

The incident at Manchester Airport came just days after the release of a report by Dame Vera Baird looking at how women were treated by GMP while in custody.

The report was released not long after an unrelated case in which a custody officer at Bolton Police Station was arrested.

This came following allegations of sexual touching, misconduct in public office, and cyber flashing.

Cllr Jiva, who’s role includes policing and public safety, said that the report was “damning, disheartening and puts us back.”

But she said that the force had already been making changes and that it had accepted the recommendations made by Dame Baird’s report.

She also clarified that the arrest of the Bolton custody officer was not linked to vetting.

Cllr Jiva said: “What I want to assure you, the public and the chamber is that not everybody sets out to do a bad job and we have a few bad apples in our cart that will get dealt with.”

She added: “So I want to reassure the public, the women and girls of Bolton today that we are here to listen, we have an open and transparent process.”

Cllr Jiva had been responding to questions put by Cllr David Wilkinson, of Westhoughton South, about the vetting of police officers.

He said: “This is not an attack on police officers, it is on the bad ones.”

He described some of the findings of the Baird report as “absolutely appalling that any female should be treated in such a way.”

Cllr Wilkinson said that behaviour like this was “not acceptable in any way, shape or form.”

Each of Bolton’s three MPs have now spoken out about the Manchester Airport incident.

Yasmin Qureshi MP, of Bolton South and Walkden, said: “Deeply concerned by a video circulating from an incident at Manchester airport yesterday.

“Understandably this has prompted serious public concern.

“I am in in touch with Greater Manchester Police and the Mayor of Greater Manchester while we await a full update on an investigation into the matter.”

Bolton North East MP Kirith Entwistle said she had also been in touch with Mr Burnham.

She said: “Following the deeply distressing and alarming video circulating from an incident at Manchester Airport yesterday, I have been reassured by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, and the Deputy Mayor, that they will be undertaking their full responsibilities in holding Greater Manchester Police to account, and will work to get to the bottom of what happened.

“I have also been informed that Greater Manchester Police has suspended a police officer from all duties, and that a referral has now been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for a full independent investigation.

“I will continue to monitor the situation closely and keep in touch with the Mayor, Deputy Mayor and GMP to receive updates.”

Bolton West MP Phil Brickell said: “Many constituents have contacted me rightfully expressing deep concern about the footage circulating online at Manchester Airport involving officers from Greater Manchester Police.

“The alarming footage has caused great distress and I share the concerns.

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“I have received an update from Greater Manchester Police stating they have now suspended a police officer from all duties.

“I understand that a referral has now been made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct for a full independent investigation.

“I hope that there will be swift action and full transparency about what happened, the timeline of events and the seeming lack of awareness until Wednesday afternoon about a serious “incident that occurred on Tuesday evening.

"I have full confidence in the Mayor of Greater Manchester and Deputy Mayor, Kate Green to undertake their responsibility to hold GMP to account, get to the bottom of what happened on behalf of the public and handle the matter in a serious and robust way.”