Police have launched an urgent review after exposing a woman’s underwear during an arrest at a Kill the Bill demonstration.
Pictures show officers lifting the woman off the ground as her jeans fall down, during Saturday’s protest in Manchester city centre.
Greater Manchester Police admitted the picture makes for ‘uncomfortable viewing,’ while mayor Andy Burnham has demanded a ‘full explanation’ from the force.
The woman pictured was one of 18 people arrested after hundreds of campaigners gathered to protest the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill 2021.
Images of the arrest sparked outrage on social media as they appeared to show the woman’s jeans being pulled down as she was dragged away by officers.
A woman’s underwear was exposed as five officers crowded around her during an arrest at a Kill the Bill protest in Manchester city centre on Friday
An officer made attempts to pull her jeans back up, but the scene had already been captured by a photographer.
Last night, Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham demanded a ‘full explanation’ from cops after a Twitter user tagged him in a photo of the woman.
The Twitter user, Mike, said: ‘I do hope you’ll be doing something about this Andy.’
Mr Burnham replied: ‘I am Mike. I have started by asking Greater Manchester Police to provide a full explanation of what happened.’
This morning, GMP issued a statement vowing to launch an ‘urgent review’ into the arrest.
Officers attempted to pull her jeans back up, but the scene, described as ‘uncomfortable viewing’ by Greater Manchester Police, had already been captured by a photographer. GMP has confirmed it is carrying out an ‘urgent review’ into the arrest
The force admitted that the pictures of the woman ‘make for uncomfortable viewing’.
A GMP spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of the videos and images of a woman partially exposed when being arrested following Saturday’s protest in the city centre, which make for uncomfortable viewing.
‘An urgent review is underway to establish circumstances and an update will follow in due course.’
In a statement issued on Monday, GMP said six of those arrested were released under investigation, six were handed fixed penalty notices and five others accepted cautions.
A boy of 17 ‘is being dealt with by the youth offending service’.
Saturday’s protest began in St Peter’s Square and had remained ‘largely peaceful’ and ‘contained’ according to GMP.
Around 150 demonstrators marched through to Piccadilly Gardens, before arriving at Stevenson Square.
As they walked chants of ‘kill the Bill’ and ‘our streets’ could be heard.
But the force defended their decision to break up the protest after a small group sat down and blocked the tram in St Peter’s Square.
GMP said the group were repeatedly asked to move by officers, and partners from Transport for Greater Manchester, but some failed to comply.
MP said six of those arrested were released under investigation, six were handed fixed penalty notices and five others accepted cautions
Campaigners complained that officers used heavy-handed tactics, pushing and dragging people out of the area.
GMP said: ‘In all events, we have used the ‘four Es’ approach, with a particular emphasis on engagement, to work our way through the challenges presented to us.
‘Where this has been exhausted without success, we have moved to enforcement action where necessary.
‘We continually prioritise the assessment of risk, the disruption caused, and importantly the safety of the wider public throughout.’
The force’s response was backed by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham and his deputy Bev Hughes.
In a joint statement, they said: ‘GMP had to manage a challenging situation carefully and we did not see a repeat of scenes seen in other parts of the country recently.’
