By Jane Doe
The Chief Constable of a police force has been told he will face a criminal probe over the release of airport footage showing a woman being handcuffed.
The Crown Prosecution Service is to decide whether to charge the officer, who cannot be named for legal reasons, with misconduct in a public office.
The footage, released on social media, shows the woman being restrained by two officers at Manchester Airport. She was later arrested and taken to a police station, where she was questioned.
The woman was released without charge, and her solicitor has called for the officer involved to be sacked.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation into the incident, and has now passed a file of evidence to the CPS.
A CPS spokesperson said: We can confirm that we have received a file of evidence from the IOPC in relation to an incident at Manchester Airport.
We will now consider the evidence and make a decision on whether to charge.
The Chief Constable has said he is co-operating fully with the investigation.
The force’s Professional Standards Department is also conducting an internal investigation.
The incident has sparked outrage, with many people calling for the officer involved to be held accountable.
A petition calling for the officer to be sacked has received more than 100,000 signatures.
The woman’s solicitor, Harriet Wistrich, said: This is a clear case of excessive force being used by the police.
The woman involved was not a threat to anyone, and yet she was treated like a criminal.
She added: We believe that the officer involved should be sacked. He has no place in the police force.
Timeline of events
- August 2022: The incident takes place at Manchester Airport.
- August 2022: The footage is released on social media.
- August 2022: The IOPC launches an investigation.
- November 2022: The IOPC passes a file of evidence to the CPS.
- November 2022: The CPS announces that it will consider the evidence and make a decision on whether to charge.
The CPS has six months to make a decision on whether to charge the officer.
Kind regards
E. Thompson.