Off-duty cops cleared of assault

Neal Keeling

June 11, 2009

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NO criminal proceedings are to be brought against three off-duty police officers arrested over an alleged assault on a teenager during a night out.

Separate investigations were launched by detectives and GMP's professional standards branch.

It is understood the officers became involved in a row with a group of youths on Market Street in Manchester. Some of the officers had asked two teenagers to stop urinating in the street.

It is thought the incident turned violent when one of the off-duty officers revealed they were policemen and produced a warrant card.

A 17-year-old was taken to hospital suffering soreness to his ribs and bruising. The teenager, who was believed to have been drunk, made an allegation of assault immediately after the incident.

Now GMP has been advised by the Crown Prosecution Service that no action should be taken against any of the off-duty officers who were arrested following allegations of assault on April 16 2009.

Supt Mark Roberts, of GMP's north Manchester division, said: "Greater Manchester Police investigate all allegations of assault thoroughly. We have been directed by the Crown Prosecution Service that no action should be taken against any of the off-duty officers alleged to have been involved in this incident.

"As with all such matters, it will be subject to an internal inquiry by GMP's Professional Standards Branch and until that investigation has been completed, it would be inappropriate to issue any further comment."

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john davis (11/06/2009 at 11:49)

We all knew that no charges would be brought, Police investigating the Police, its like dodgy Solicitors , they get investigated by their own too, Just because they were off duty Police doesn't give them the right to attack teenagers,

Pongo61 (11/06/2009 at 12:15)

I think there are a number of us who love the idea of off duty cops giving some miscreants a good hiding for peeing up a wall and half drowning scumbag drug-dealers.

The Very Cheeky Monkey, in the trees (11/06/2009 at 12:15)

So, on the face of it, three men, all trained in unarmed combat, probably fuelled with drink themselves, get involved in a kerfuffle with a drunken teenager. Brilliant!

Nemo (11/06/2009 at 14:08)

Princess_Pam, Crumpsall (11/06/2009 at 14:43)

Police officers and politicians.....nothing is ever done.

MancLadUK, Manchester (11/06/2009 at 17:15)

Such a shame that there are some very naive people making comments on this site these days. There are plenty of police officers who have been charged for their offences, just because it's been decided that there's not sufficient to charge this time doesn't mean officers get an easy time.

The arrest or questioning of individuals does NOT mean they have committed the offence. It means that allegations are being investigated and at the end of those investigations the evidence is reviewed to see if there is sufficient to charge someone with an offence. If there's not enough evidence to charge then they aren't charged. The one thing to remember is that an allegation does NOT mean someone's done something.

I appreciate these people are police officers and that there are some readers on here that dislike the police and those that work to uphold the law, for whatever their own reasons, however let's not immediately jump to conclusions or brand someone as guilty simply because they are police officers.

All things like this do is teach officers not to get involved when off duty for fear of prosecution. Those eager to criticise now should remember that if they ever need help and an off duty police officer is near by because these witch hunt like comments and lack of support from the public / willingness to instantly go for the kill are the problem!

Chris P. Duck (11/06/2009 at 17:34)

Good speech Manc Lad. Nice to see someone with common sense, and an abilty to see past Newspaper articles that are short on details and facts. Some people read a few lines in a newspaper, and let their imagination fill in the rest for them.

Esso Blue. G. Barry, it's a Done Deal. Next, Manchester (11/06/2009 at 18:27)

I look at it this way, when you do urinate in the street it is a disgusting habit. They do it when people pass, families could be passing with children. It's just nasty. disrespectful.

neil williams, warrington (11/06/2009 at 18:57)

John Davis, obviously doesn't like the cops... get REAL!!!!! A complaint to the police would probably never been made if the lads hadn't disclosed themselves as cops. Lets face it, gobby drunk teenagers urinating in a street would annoy you wouldn't it? On one hand you probably say"kids are ruining the streets" then when Off duty officers try and tackle it, they've done wrong. Go stick your head back in the sand bucket!!!!

Gem 01, Manchester (11/06/2009 at 22:29)

Well said MancLadUK

Father Time, elsewhere (13/06/2009 at 18:01)

Well said indeed. John Davis appears to made a number of ill educated Cop bashing comments recently and deserves a well thought out put down

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