Manchester Airport police officer still under investigation for misconduct following arrest kick

ITV News

2 days ago

A police officer filmed kicking a man in the head after he had been brought down with a Taser could still face misconduct charges - as a man is found guilty of assaulting his female colleagues.
PC Zachary Marsden is being investigated by the police complaints watchdog over allegations of professional misconduct towards Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, following an incident at Manchester Airport in July 2024.
It comes as Amaaz was convicted of the assaults of PC Lydia Ward and PC Ellie Cook after a fracas broke out while the officers attempted to arrest him.
Mobile phone footage of the aftermath of the arrest went viral on social media after it showed the Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer kicking Amaaz while he lying was on the floor.
It sparked protests in the brothers' hometown of Rochdale and Manchester city centre, as campaigners took to the streets against "police brutality of a Muslim family".
Within hours of the video emerging the brothers appeared in another video with their solicitor - who described them as traumatised.
Speaking at the time, Dal Babu, the former Chief Superintendent at the Metropolitan Police, said he was "incredibly shocked" by the footage.
"They should have suspended the officer immediately, they [GMP] have been brought effectively kicking and screaming to do what the community wants it to do," he said.
"I was incredibly shocked by the brutality and the level of violence used by the police officer which was not proportionate or necessary."
PC Marsden was swiftly suspended by GMP and he was placed under criminal investigation for assault.
But, shortly after, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said it was not as "clear cut" as many believed the footage made it out to be.
"We would never be so complacent as to say there are no issues with discrimination in parts of our police force or other police forces, you have always got to be very challenging on that front - and we are.
"But in this instance it is a complicated situation I think it is a complicated situation, it is not as clear cut."
He added: "It's not for any of us just to rush to judgement and say they know everything off the back of something off social media.
"The right thing to do is to have a process of investigation that is as independent as it can be."
In a press conference the brothers claimed they were the victims of a smear campaign and also alleged their mother was left badly bruised after being hit in the face with a taser during the incident.
Their solicitor, Aamer Anwar, told the media: "The two young men sat here today, along with their mother family, are left devastated and traumatised by the incident at Manchester Airport.
"Despite the clear attempt by some to place disinformation in the media and on social media, the young men sat next to me do not have a single criminal conviction, not even a speeding ticket."
Five months later, after a file was sent to the Crown Prosecution Service by the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC), the body decided PC Marsden would not be charged with any criminal offence, while Amaaz and his brother would face assault charges.
Despite the CPS's decision, the IOPC say its investigation has not concluded as the watchdog is still to make a decision on if there is case for misconduct.
It said it would take into account all evidence gathered during the investigation - including anything relevant from the trial.
'Our independent investigation into the use of force by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officers on six people during a series of arrests at Manchester Airport on 23 July 2024 is nearing completion," a spokesperson said.
'At the end of the investigation, we are required to determine whether there is an indication that anyone serving with the police may have breached the standards of professional behaviour.
'This will take into account all of the evidence gathered during the investigation, not simply matters that were under criminal investigation.
'On concluding our investigation, we will inform the officers, GMP and the people involved in the arrests of our initial determinations.'
During the four week criminal trial against the brothers CCTV from the airport, played in court, revealed the moments before the viral footage, which saw Amaaz land 10 punches and kicks on officers.
Both brothers denied the allegations and claimed they acted in self defence or in defence of each other.
Amaaz told the court when he was 'grabbed' by PC Marsden at a car park pay station he had not realised he was a police officer, and had resisted arrest even when he saw the uniform because he feared the officer was 'going to batter him to death".
Giving evidence at the trial, P|C Marsden said he was unaware Amaaz had been tasered and he kicked him in the face 'to stun the subject' as he believed he was attempting to get off the floor.
He told the court he did not believe he struck Amaaz's head with a stamp in which he sought to clamp down on the loose wire of his police radio to avoid it being used as a weapon against him.
Amaaz was convicted of the assault of PC Lydia Ward causing actual bodily harm and the assault of emergency worker PC Ellie Cook.
He was also found guilty of an earlier assault of a member of the public, Abdulkareem Ismaeil, at the airport.
The jury - after 10 hours of deliberating - was unable to reach verdicts on allegations that Amaaz and his brother, Muhammad Ahmed, 26, assaulted PC Zachary Marsden causing actual bodily harm.
The Crown will seek a retrial on those counts.