Police officers tackled a 16-year-old boy ‘carrying a knife’ to the ground and ‘punched and kicked’ him in a ‘brutal’ arrest video.
Five officers rush towards the hooded teen as he pedals along on his e-bike in Heald Green, Stockport, and pull him to the ground before clambering on top of him.
In the CCTV footage, they can be seen trying to handcuff him by pining him to the ground and putting his arms behind his back.
One officer appears to punch the teen as he struggles before another walks up behind him and lashes out with a kick.
Greater Manchester Police officers had earlier attempted to search the boy but he refused to stop.
A knife and balaclava were seized during the arrest on August 7.
The boy’s shocked mother had to take her son to A&E so he could receive treatment for injuries to his face.
She has since lodged a complaint to Greater Manchester Police and described the arrest as ‘brutal’ saying: ‘When I saw the CCTV, the utmost trust I have in the law broke inside me.’
Because of concerns about planned unrest, a Section 60 order granting police more authority to stop and search individuals was in effect in the region at the time.
It came on a night when police up and down the country were preparing for more than 100 planned protests after a list of 39 locations emerged on what appeared to be far-right Telegram channels.
The supposed riots would never materialise with tens of thousands of counter-protesters coming out in force to silence the thugs in a show of love over hate.
The force’s Professional Standards Directorate is presently reviewing the video, which was obtained by the Manchester Evening News.
The teen’s mother, who wished to be anonymous, told the newspaper: ‘How can they justify this many grown men on my son? It’s really shaken me.
‘He was wrong, but instinct meant he tried to get away. I saw his face was bleeding when I got there.’
She added: ‘What was the need for this violence? Every time that video is watched, I see something new. All of that happens in two minutes.
‘Nothing excuses the level of violence.’
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police told the MEN: ‘Our Professional Standards Directorate is reviewing a video circulating on social media where officers are seen detaining a 16-year-old boy in Heald Green on Wednesday 7th August.
‘There was an increase in police presence in the vicinity after a section 60 stop and search authority was authorised due to information surrounding potential for planned disorder in the local area that day.
‘With these temporary additional powers, officers can stop and search anyone within a specific time frame in a specified area.
‘A teenager riding an electric bike failed to stop and was apprehended after he made away from officers who attempted to stop and search him moments before.
‘A knife and balaclava were seized, along with the e-bike, and the rider will be questioned by police as part of our investigation.’
For additional information, MailOnline has reached out to Greater Manchester Police.
The police undoubtedly still have a duty of care, even though the adolescent fought arrest and carried a knife and balaclava. It was improper for the police to kick and punch their suspect, and there were more effective means to bring him to justice.
It seems the normal thing to do these days, and carrying a knife and wearing a balaclava is one of them. At the end of the day, this lad was carrying an offensive weapon. He was probably doing it to look cool to his mates, but this lad could have easily hurt someone. The police were well within their rights to apprehend him. He ran away because he was scared, but kicking and punching him was not the way to deal with this.
The lad was probably up to no good, otherwise, why would he have a knife? The trouble is our laws need updating now because our legal system is very out of touch with things, especially the crimes that are happening now!
THE MONTHLY MOSQUITO 