Manchester custody officer cleared of misconduct
The complaint related to an incident at Longsight Police station in 2015
An officer found by a police watchdog to have used unnecessary force on an arrested man has been cleared of misconduct by Greater Manchester Police.
Neville Edwards claims he was the victim of "police brutality'' after he was arrested in 2015 on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly.
Footage of Edwards being restrained in a cell at Longsight Police station was shown during his trial at Manchester Crown Court.
He later released part of the same footage online, although a jury convicted him of assault when he bit a police sergeant during the incident.
Edwards, who was sentenced to 12 months in jail, says he was repeatedly elbowed and kneed by a number of officers while he put up no resistance.
GMP referred the matter to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which concluded a custody detention officer forced Edwards to the floor of the cell and struck him four times before the biting incident.
In the investigator's opinion the detention officer used unnecessary force and had a case to answer for misconduct, said the IPCC.
The watchdog added that GMP disagreed with the finding and a disciplinary hearing was ordered, in which a GMP panel ruled last week that the officer did not have a case to answer for misconduct.
IPCC Commissioner Jan Williams said: This was a thorough investigation looking at serious allegations against Greater Manchester Police officers. The decision to direct misconduct proceedings - never taken lightly - ensured that the custody detention officer's actions were properly held to account.''
The investigation also looked at the actions of another police sergeant who struck Edwards on the back and applied a pressure point to his jaw. The IPCC found evidence that this action was taken during the biting incident and concluded that officer did not have a case to answer for misconduct.
Following the release of the footage online, Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan explained that officers were required to use force to restrain Edwards and remove his clothing for his own safety after a bid to use it as a ligature.
He pointed out that the video in full was provided as evidence in the court case, whereas an edited version had been circulated on social media.