Gypsy and Travellers leaders accuse GMP of 'utterly deplorable racial profiling'

Greater Manchester Police have been accused of 'racial profiling' and 'structural racism' after large groups of Irish Traveller and Gypsy children were forced onto trains out of Manchester city centre.

Leaders from the Travelling community have written to GMP Chief Constable Stephen Watson to call for an apology and a 'full investigation' into the weekend's 'utterly deplorable' events. They accuse the force of 'racial profiling, over-policing and violent restraint of Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller children' saying it was 'not an isolated event, but a clear example of structural racism'.

The chaotic scenes at Victoria station, the Arndale and around the Christmas Markets came after GMP signed a dispersal order allowing them to turn people away from much of the city centre. Police said they were acting on intelligence that groups of people were travelling to Manchester on trains 'causing anti-social behaviour'.

READ MORE: What really happened in town on Saturday afternoon

Video footage emerged of a large number of children, apparently prevented from attending the Christmas markets, walking down a staircase to a platform at Manchester Victoria railway station lined by police. They were then put on trains.

In one clip, a young man could be heard shouting 'I don't know where I am going' as he was pushed on board a train. Another youngster - a girl aged 13 and from Doncaster - ended up more than 100 miles away from Manchester in Grimsby after she was put on a train.

The letter, which is signed by leaders of 20 groups and organisations including Friends, Families and Travellers, Irish Community Care Manchester and the organisers of the Appleby Horse Fair, says: "The incidents are utterly deplorable, and the victims and their families are experiencing significant distress, with concern and anger felt across the communities. We are appalled that Greater Manchester Police made operational decisions which led to young people from minority ethnic communities to experience police violence and humiliation.

"In addition to the criminalisation of Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller children, police forced the young people onto trains out of the city with no clear plans or provisions in place to ensure these children would reach home safely, after being targets of police action, the very institution that is supposed to ensure their safety. For far too long Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller communities have faced over-policing, discrimination and race hate, and are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system."

The Traveller Movement, a national charity working with Irish Traveller, Romani and Roma communities to challenge discrimination and promote inclusion, has said it is considering legal action against GMP. Meanwhile yesterday representatives of the Gypsy and Travelling community also met with Greater Manchester deputy mayor Kate Green to discuss the weekend's events.

One attendee told the M.E.N. that 'no questions were answered', but said that Ms Green said she would take the concerns raised to GMP.

The M.E.N. understands GMP intends to respond to the letter directly.