Published by Robert L Senior Reporter on Monday, 25th November 2024, at 07:30hrs
Greater Manchester Police are accused of discrimination following the incident on Saturday night
Greater Manchester Police have released a statement following an incident in the city where travellers were ushered onto trains and asked to leave the area following the implementation of a dispersal order.
The dispersal order put in place by the force was granted by a senior officer on the grounds of preventing anti-social behaviour and protecting the public due to intelligence received. This gives the police the power to ask people to leave an area and arrest those that refuse to do so.
The Traveller movement charity alleges this action to be one of discrimination. Videos posted online show police officers acting heavy-handed with the group some children by ushering them onto trains.
Posting on X The Traveller Movement charity said in a statement:
“Manchester Police have this afternoon allegedly blocked Romani Gypsies and Irish Traveller
children from attending the Christmas markets,
This heavy-handed and discriminatory action has left children upset and distressed, with parents
deeply concerned about the treatment that their children have faced,
We have been contacted by numerous parents and received video footage of Romani Gypsy and
Irish Traveller children arriving into Manchester, and then being forced onto a different train and
prevented from leaving the station by police. These children were simply trying to enjoy the
festivities like everyone else but instead have been unfairly targeted and marginalised.
This is a shocking case and it is completely unacceptable. We will not stand by while our
communities are discriminated against and excluded in this way.
Manchester Police must be held accountable for their alleged actions and take immediate steps to
end this blatant injustice
Greater Manchester Police’s Ass Chief Constable Rick Jackson said in a statement on Sunday:
“We are aware of social media videos circulating, and comments from the Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities concerning our policing of a dispersal order in Manchester city centre yesterday.
Our priority is always to protect public safety by preventing incidents of violence and disorder.
“Due to intelligence of groups causing anti-social behaviour on trains on the way into Manchester and similar reports rising around the city centre, alongside increasing footfall, we issued a dispersal order.
“This included plans for officers to re-route arriving groups back home.
“Shortly after, officers responded to several disturbances in the city centre and intervened in altercations between groups.
“We understand there are feelings of mistreatment and confusion amongst groups of people for being turned away yesterday, and we are determined to address these concerns by working closely with the Mayor’s office to engage these communities in Manchester and further afield.”
The deputy mayor of Greater Manchester, Kate Green, has also called for an investigation into the officer’s handling of the situation.
She said: “I have watched the videos circulating on social media and have asked GMP for a full report on the action taken”.
G2K INCIDENT WATCH 