A young woman claims she suffered a broken foot after being pushed by a police officer. The incident is currently being looked at by the police watchdog, with a spokesperson confirming a complaint has been received 'concerning the use of force'.
Lauren Wilson, 22, says she was on a night out with friends in Manchester city centre when she broke two bones in her foot in the early hours of September 11. Due to her suffering an injury, it was mandatory for Greater Manchester Police to refer the matter to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC).
Lauren, an undergraduate at Wolverhampton University, said: "I was on a night out to celebrate a friend's 25th birthday. We were outside the club, which we had just left. I was waiting for an Uber with my sister.
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"There was a police van and a police car. I walked by both vehicles, trying to find my Uber. Suddenly, I saw blue lights and the police car started reversing towards me. He put his sirens on almost to intimidate me and the girls I was with."
Lauren alleged: "He then jumped out of the car and screamed 'I have told you three times to move'. I said 'hold on, you haven't'. He then came close to my face.
"He put his hand on me and pushed me - on my waist. By then I was on the side of the road next to the pavement. There was no need for him to touch me. Why did he need to put his hands on a female that had done nothing?
"I pushed him in his chest because I felt threatened, and did so in self defence. He tried to grab my arm. Then I just remember being thrown to the floor after he pushed me with a lot of force. I heard my friends gasp.
"None of the officers asked if I was okay after I hurt my foot. The officer that pushed me claimed I had grabbed his throat, which did not happen. I was not arrested for any offence.
"Because of what happened the adrenalin was pumping and I just needed to get back to my hotel to sleep. The next morning it was clear my foot was injured. I went to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton when we got home and they found I had two broken bones in my foot."
Lauren says her foot was put in a cast and that she will now miss the start of her second year at university, where she is studying architectural technology for a degree. She has made a formal complaint to GMP.
The alleged incident happened on Longworth Street, off Deansgate. In a statement, Greater Manchester Police said: "Our Professional Standards Branch has referred this matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. There is no further update at this moment in time."
An IOPC spokesman said: "We have received a complaint referral from Greater Manchester Police concerning the use of force during an incident in the early hours of Sunday, 11 September in Manchester city centre.
"We are assessing the available information to determine if any further action is required from us."
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