Family request “time to heal” after brutal airport video of police stamping on man’s head

Family request “time to heal” after brutal airport video of police stamping on man’s head 

The family of a man who was kicked and stamped on by a police officer in a shocking airport video has requested time to heal, after being “deeply traumatised” by the event.

Rochdale MP Paul Waugh met with the Rochdale family, who told him they do not condone any political violence nor want to be a part of any protests.

Their priorities going forward, he says, are the wellbeing of family members in this difficult time and also for justice to be done.

Paul added: “They wanted me to appeal for calm and I hope that appeal is heeded. And while there is clearly deep concern about this incident, there is also a vital need not to let extremists of any kind hijack these events for their own ends.

“This is a hard-working Rochdale family, some of whose members are police officers themselves and are therefore particularly shocked at what they have witnessed.”

Paul recently raised the issue in the House of Commons, following a protest outside Rochdale Police Station earlier this week. He now has plans to speak directly with the Home Secretary to pass on “deep concerns.”
 

Read more: Hundreds protest at police station after it emerges man in shocking airport footage is from Rochdale Published: 25 July 2024

Paul continued: “As well as meeting the family, I met Assistant Chief Constable Chaudhry at GMP headquarters to get an up-to-date briefing on the case today. I’m pleased that Greater Manchester Police are engaging with community groups and are acutely aware of the distress this video has caused locally, nationally and even internationally.

“There is a wider background and context to this incident which will be explored by the Independent Office for Police Conduct and it’s important not to rush to judgement based on social media clips.

“It’s crucially important that we allow the independent process to gather all the facts and that no one prejudices its operation. I am encouraged that the IOPC are already acting quickly because we cannot have this investigation dragging on for years.

“That would delay justice for all of the parties involved. I also asked the Assistant Chief Constable to pass on my thoughts and concern for the female police officer injured in the run up to this incident. The police do a very difficult job every day to keep us all safe.

“They know that they should be held to a high standard of conduct in carrying out their duty - and that none of their officers should be above the law.”