GMP professional standards probe launched over arrest of cafe owner suspected of lockdown breach

Greater Manchester Police has launched a professional standards probe following the arrest of a cafe owner after officers were called to an alleged lockdown breach.Officers were responding to reports of '100 people in a cafe' in Burnage on Sunday afternoon when the incident took place.A 38-year-old man has since been charged with assaulting a police officer and will appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court on February 23.

On Sunday night, GMP said they were investigating a video circulating on social media, which appears to show a man being struck by a police officer.

Last night the force said 'initial reviews suggest that officers' actions were reasonable when assessed within the wider context of the situation', but said the incident had been referred GMP's Professional Standards Branch.

GMP said: "On Sunday 7 February 2021, officers were responding to reports of non-compliance with Covid-19 restrictions by a café on Burnage Lane in Manchester."On arrival at the incident, officers were faced with a significant amount of people who were blatantly breaching Covid legislation which has been put in place to protect the most vulnerable members of our community."Some concerns have been raised regarding footage circulating on social media which shows officers arresting a man following this incident in Burnage."GMP has reviewed all footage available, including that obtained from police worn body video which shows the full timeline of events."Whilst initial reviews suggest that officers' actions were reasonable when assessed within the wider context of the situation, following concerns raised by members of the public, it has been referred to GMP's Professional Standards Branch in line with usual policy."Officers in attendance were confronted with verbal abuse from numerous members of the public - all of whom were in breach of coronavirus lockdown legislation - present at the scene."They were then further faced with a reluctance to cooperate by a number of those present, despite the officers attempting to engage with them."One officer sustained physical injuries in the process."A man has been charged in connection with this incident so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time."

Fourteen fixed penalty notices were also handed after police were called to the cafe.