LONDON, July 26 (Xinhua) -- A police officer is under criminal investigation after being filmed kicking and stamping on a man's head at Manchester Airport earlier this week, Britain's police complaints watchdog said on Friday.
The Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer was caught on camera by an onlooker kicking and stamping on a man who was lying face down on the ground at the airport during an arrest on Tuesday evening, leading to accusations of police brutality and two nights of protests later in the week.
"We can confirm we are conducting a criminal investigation into the use of force during events which took place on 23 July at Manchester Airport," Catherine Bates, regional director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said in a statement.
The investigation began following a referral made on Wednesday.
IOPC said their investigators have already secured a significant amount of body-worn video and CCTV footage which will be subject to detailed analysis.
It said that at the end of the investigation, they will decide whether to refer the matter to the Crown Prosecution Service for a charging decision and decide whether the officer should face disciplinary proceedings.
The GMP has suspended a police officer involved in the incident from all duties on Thursday. ■
