BY NEAL KEELING 28 Th January, 2016
The region’s police boss has called on GMP to let a watchdog investigate allegations that a man was ‘brutally assaulted’ by officers in a cell.
As reported in the M.E.N., Neville Edwards, 31, who was later found guilty of biting an officer during the incident at Longsight police station, says he was elbowed and kneed by officers as they restrained him. He insists the force used was unjustified.
Footage of Mr Edwards being restrained in the cell was shown to a jury at Manchester Crown Court, and he has now posted it on his own Facebook page. One officer elbows him more than a dozen times in the back as he lies on the floor. Mr Edwards, who has mental health issues is later stripped naked by the officers.
He says he had been arrested for allegedly being drunk and disorderly in Princess Road, Whalley Range, near his home last July. He denies he had been drinking and says he had only taken prescription drugs.
Responding to the M.E.N., story, Greater Manchester’s Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd said: “It is clear this footage will cause legitimate concern to the public and GMP need to provide reassurance that policing in Greater Manchester is carried out to the highest standards.
“There is a strong public interest in getting to the bottom of what exactly happened here. GMP have told me there are mitigating circumstances, and clearly the individual has been convicted by a jury of biting one of the police officers during this incident.
“However, it is in the interests of all those concerned that it is investigated fully, quickly and independently and I will therefore request that the Chief Constable refers this matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.”
WATCH: Neville Edwards talk about police brutality
“This video in full was provided as evidence in the recent court case of a man charged with assaulting a police officer as they tried to deal with him in custody. Following an attempt to create a ligature around his neck with items of clothing, officers were required to use force to restrain the individual and remove his clothing for his own safety.
Watch: Man claims he was violently assaulted by police officers in cell as they tried to restrain him
“During this incident, a police officer was seriously bitten for a sustained period of time, leaving him with scars and permanent damage to his arm, and requiring blood tests over a number of months.
“The man was convicted in court of actual bodily harm for this assault on the police officer on 14 January 2016 following a trial, and is due to be sentenced on 10 March 2016.
Tony Lloyd
“In custody there are occasions where police officers have to use force to keep the detainee, the officers themselves, and also other detainees, safe. All of our officers are trained in the use of restraint techniques, some of which I accept may appear quite shocking when viewed out of context by members of the public.
“Greater Manchester Police has not received any complaints about excessive use of force in relation to this incident or any breaches of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.
“However, we are reviewing the circumstances surrounding this incident to ensure that the actions of all the officers involved meet the required standards to justify the force used on this occasion. Officers from GMP are also seeking to meet with the man to consider his complaints made via the media.”
Credit: Manchester Evening News
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