Reformâs legal action threat over airport incident
Reform UK has said it would take legal action against two men following a disturbance at Manchester Airport if they were not charged by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
Footage of the incident shared widely online appeared to show a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) officer kicking and stamping on the head of a man as he was being restrained.
Further footage, obtained by the Manchester Evening News, emerged days later which allegedly showed the immediate lead-up to the incident on 23 July.
The CPS said it was considering material and providing advice in relation to a series of alleged criminal offences at the airport.
âTwo-tier policingâ
At a party press conference earlier, Reform leader Nigel Farage accused GMP and the CPS of perpetuating âtwo-tier policingâ by not announcing charges following the incident.
The Home Office said there was âno such thing as two-tier policingâ and it was âright the CPS and the IOPC were able to carry out their investigations independentlyâ.
The average time between a referral from the police and the CPS reaching a charging decision was 46 days, according to the latest available data.
Farage also accused GMP of making a âcatastrophicâ decision on withholding an earlier video which he claimed gave the public a false impression of what happened.
But GMP said it had not released any footage of the incident, adding: âWe have avoided providing ongoing commentary on the case, including releasing footage, to ensure that justice can be served without the risk of prejudicing proceedings.
âWe continue to support the officers involved and are committed to getting them justice.â
The force said a âcomprehensive file of evidenceâ was sent to the CPS mid-August, and it awaited a âcharging decisionâ.
Aamer Anwar, a solicitor representing Fahir Amaaz and his brother Muhammed Amaad, said they were awaiting the outcome of the CPS investigation, adding he âdoubted very muchâ the CPS would be âpressured⊠by Mr Farage and coâ.
Richard Tice, Reform MP for Boston and Skegness, and Farage said by not releasing footage, police had allowed misinformation to âpermeate through the countryâ.
Police forces rarely release footage unless there is a âpolicing purposeâ, often to identify suspects.
In this case the suspects had been arrested.
Four men arrested on suspicion of affray and assault remain on bail.
GMP conducted its own investigations into the officers before handing over the matter to the IOPC.
One officer is under investigation in connection with the arrests of the brothers and he has also been suspended by the force.
A second officer has been advised they were also under investigation shortly after two other men were arrested.
Tice told reporters 11 weeks after the incident those involved had not been charged, and compared that to the âswift justice shownâ to those involved in the summer riots, adding they were âbeing treated differentlyâ.
Tice said a letter had been sent to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, signed by all of the partyâs five MPs addressing their âgenuine concernsâ.
A Home Office spokesman said: âWe expect high standards of conduct from police officers and they must equally be able to carry out their jobs without disruption.
âIt is right that the CPS and the IOPC are both able to carry out their investigations independently, without fear or favour.â
The CPS added: âWe are working with Greater Manchester Police and the Independent Office for Police Conduct while their inquiries continue.â
Tice said the party had taken initial advice and had a legal team on standby to progress with their own private prosecution when required.
Anyone can begin a private prosecution, however in practice they are often taken over by the CPS, and can be discontinued.
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