Romani Gypsies and Irish Traveller communities accuse Manchester Police of “shocking” discrimination after children forced away from Christmas markets
A charity representing Romani Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller communities has brought a complaint against Greater Manchester Police (GMP) after children were allegedly turned away from the Manchester Christmas markets and forced onto trains.
Posted on 19 December 2024
The Traveller Movement charity say Romani Gypsies and Irish Travellers were unlawfully targeted, marginalised and racially profiled after officers used excessive force on children as young as 10 years old.
In a letter of complaint sent to GMP by Leigh Day on Thursday 19 December, the Traveller Movement argue GMP's actions were in breach of various duties that must be considered when the police exercise their statutory powers – specifically regarding excessive force/battery, false imprisonment, negligence and safeguarding.
Video footage circulated online showed distressed children being forced through Manchester Victoria train station on Saturday 23 November 2024 after being met by a large number of GMP officers.
Children as young as 10 were forced onto trains heading to unknown destinations, separated from family members, and subjected to physical aggression, including shoving, hair-pulling, and handcuffing. Several individuals reported officers making disparaging remarks about their ethnicity, such as referring to them as ‘pikeys’. Witnesses also described officers removing their badge numbers.
In a statement released the same day as the incident, GMP said a 48-hour dispersal notice was put in place shortly after midday following alleged reports of “anti-social behaviour” on trains and in the city.
The Traveller Movement allege that at no point did GMP officers make enquiries as to where the children were from or seek to ensure they were placed on trains that would get them home. They say no effort was made to ensure appropriate safeguarding procedures were in place or to enlist responsible adults to manage the situation. They say officers never got onto trains with the children to ensure their safety after they had been placed in a vulnerable situation.
The charity allege the children were unlawfully targeted and racially profiled.
In a statement issued by GMCA on 17 December, Deputy Mayor for Safer and Stronger Communities Kate Green has also said there are “lessons to be learned” from what happened.
The Traveller Movement has instructed human rights partner Ryan Bradshaw at Leigh Day to bring a complaint against GMP for the following:
- Breaches of various duties in respect of excessive force/battery, false imprisonment, negligence and safeguarding.
- Potential contraventions of the Equality Act 2010, the European Convention on Human Rights and Human Rights Act 1998.
A parent described the experiences of their two sons, aged 13 and 10:
“As a parent, I am outraged by how my children were treated. My 13-year-old son was manhandled, shouted at, and forced onto a train to an unattended destination, despite our pleas for the police to prioritise his safety. My 10-year-old was stopped and searched on the mere suspicion of carrying a weapon, with no evidence and no justification - targeted purely because of his heritage.
“We teach our children to trust the police, to see them as protectors. But how can I ask my sons to trust officers who dismissed their safety, refused to communicate with me, and treated them with such hostility and prejudice? This experience has left my children traumatised, and it has shattered any faith we had in the system that is supposed to safeguard them. No child should be made to feel unwelcome in their own country because of who they are.”
Yvonne MacNamara, CEO of the Traveller Movement, said:
“The treatment of Romani Gypsies and Irish Traveller children in this incident is nothing short of appalling. These children were not just excluded from enjoying the Christmas festivities; they were humiliated, manhandled, and denied basic respect and safeguarding by the very authorities tasked with protecting them.”
Pauline Melvin-Anderson OBE, Irish Traveller and Chair of the Traveller Movement, said:
“This is yet another example of the shocking discrimination our communities face daily, and we will not stand by while children are subjected to such trauma and injustice. Greater Manchester Police must acknowledge their actions and take immediate steps to address the apparent prejudice that leads to such incidents. Every child, regardless of their background, has the right to feel safe, valued, and included.”
Ryan Bradshaw, lawyer at law firm Leigh Day, said:
“The alleged actions taken by Greater Manchester Police are deeply troubling, young children on their way to the Christmas markets appear to have been treated like football hooligans on a rampage. It is crucial that safeguarding responsibilities are upheld in interactions with all young people, regardless of their heritage or ethnicity. This incident represents a clear failure in that regard. We believe a truly independent inquiry should urgently be convened if lessons are to be learned and trust restored.”
A copy of the letter of complaint can be found here.
Ryan Bradshaw
Ryan advises on human rights, discrimination and employment law
Ryan Bradshaw is Manchester Solicitor of the Year
Leigh Day human rights team partner Ryan Bradshaw has been named Solicitor of the Year at the Manchester Legal Awards.
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