Update on the Manchester Mass Dispersal Order

The Traveller Movement continues to challenge the actions taken by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) during the mass dispersal operation on Saturday, 23 November 2024. Despite misinformation circulating online, GMP has not issued an apology for their operational decisions, nor have they addressed the harm caused to Romani Gypsy and  Irish Traveller children and their families.

We have instructed Ryan Bradshaw, a human rights solicitor at Leigh Day, to lodge a formal complaint with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The complaint addresses the following allegations:

1. Breaches of duty concerning excessive force, battery, false imprisonment, negligence, and safeguarding failures.
2. Violations of the Equality Act 2010, European Convention on Human Rights, and the Human Rights Act 1998.

We argue that GMP’s actions contravened essential legal and ethical duties when exercising their statutory powers, particularly regarding their handling of minors and their failure to uphold safeguarding standards.

Video footage widely shared online showed children as young as 10 being forcibly removed from the city center and Manchester Victoria train station by a significant number of GMP officers. Key concerns include:

• Separation from families: Children were placed on trains bound for unknown destinations without ensuring they could return home safely.
• Physical aggression: Reports include officers shoving, pulling hair, and handcuffing children.
• Verbal abuse: Witnesses reported officers using racial slurs, including calling children “pikeys.”
• Lack of accountability: Some officers allegedly removed their badge numbers during the operation.

One parent described their sons’ experience:

“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.”

In a statement, GMP justified the use of a 48-hour dispersal order following reports of “anti-social behavior” on trains and in the city. However, no attempts were made to ensure children’s safety or uphold safeguarding procedures:

• Officers did not verify the children’s origins or destinations.
• No responsible adults were involved to ensure their welfare.
• Children were left vulnerable on trains, with no police presence to guarantee their safety.

Support for Families

To assist affected individuals, the Traveller Movement has partnered with ITN Solicitors to provide expert legal advice and support to families seeking justice. Please click here for the information video.  For information on support organisations, please click here.

Next Steps

The Traveller Movement is committed to ensuring GMP is held accountable for these actions. This is not just a fight for justice for those directly affected but a stand against systemic discrimination and prejudice. We call on GMP to:

• Publicly address their actions and issue an apology.
• Ensure transparency in their decision-making and operational processes.
• Take immediate steps to rebuild trust with the community.

We stand in solidarity with the families affected and will continue to advocate for justice and equality.