Deputy mayor issues statement over Gypsy and Traveller videos and wants 'full report' from GMP

The deputy mayor of Greater Manchester has issued a statement after social media video footage showed young members of Gypsy and Traveller communities being herded by police onto trains at Manchester Victoria railway station.

Kate Green, whose 'safer and stronger' communities role includes supporting victims of crime, said she has asked Greater Manchester Police 'for a full report on the action taken' and would also be holding a meeting of community leaders.

Ms Green confirmed she's watched the footage and said she 'expects the police to treat everyone fairly and with respect'.

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It comes as GMP was today accused of a 'heavy-handed and discriminatory action' by a charity who said Gypsy and Traveller children were stopped from attending the Christmas markets and 'forced' back onto trains out of the city.

The Traveller Movement, a national charity, said it was a 'shocking' and 'completely unacceptable' case.

Videos seen by the Manchester Evening News appear to show children and young adults, many of them girls in dresses, being met by officers on a platform, who then usher them onto trains. Girls can be overheard shouting they don't know where they are going.

The force issued a heightened dispersal order powers, made two arrests and broke up two fights involving youngsters.

Groups, GMP said, were involved in anti-social behaviour and 40 dispersal orders, which instruct someone likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to leave an area immediately, were issued.

But the charity said it has been contacted by 'numerous parents' - and that children were left upset and distressed. Some, it added, were separated from siblings.

As a backlash over what happens grows, Ms Green said in a statement on Sunday: "I am aware that Greater Manchester Police issued a dispersal order in Manchester city centre yesterday in response to concerns about large groups of people causing disturbances at the Christmas markets.

"I have watched the videos circulating on social media with concern and have asked GMP for a full report on the action taken.

"While we will not tolerate lawlessness and anti-social behaviour in Greater Manchester, I want to reassure the community that I expect the police to treat everyone fairly and with respect, and I will be inviting community leaders to meet me to discuss what has happened."

A second charity, Friends, Families and Travellers, issued a statement referencing 'police brutality'.

They said: "Today, Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) was made aware of video footage circulating on social media depicting Greater Manchester Police (GMP) violently restricting and over-policing young Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller children at a Manchester Christmas market, as well as forcing them onto trains out of the town centre.

"These actions by GMP raise serious questions on its operational approach, decision-making processes, and how it allowed so many innocent Romany and Irish Traveller children to be treated in such a reprehensible and violent manner in its hands.

"This is extremely distressing for the young people involved, their families and the wider communities, and FFT will be pushing for a full and comprehensive explanation of the decisions that led to children being restrained and subjected to brutality. It's vile that instead of being allowed to act like the children they are, Romany and Irish Traveller kids are criminalised, humiliated and abused daily."

Greater Manchester Police has been contacted by the Manchester Evening News for further comment.

When the M.E.N. asked GMP for a comment on the criticism last night, a spokesperson said: "We are responding to reports of hundreds of youths gathering in Manchester city centre and causing disturbances for retail staff and patrons of the markets.

"Additional powers have authorised enabling officers to manage groups involved in anti-social behaviour more effectively, and so far, we have issued 40 dispersal orders which instructs someone likely to cause harassment, alarm, or distress to leave an area immediately."