Video of police ‘kicking man’ during search being investigated

Birmingham: Police in Birmingham are investigating after a video showing officers apparently kicking and hitting a man during a vehicle search was published on social media.

The Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, Khalid Mahmood, described the footage as “concerning”, but called for calm and said the matter was being investigated.

The film, which has since been shared widely on social media, shows plainclothes officers searching a vehicle for drugs. Words are exchanged and violence erupts, with a man who appears to be British Asian knocked to the ground and struck several times with a baton by officers.

Mahmood said: “I am extremely concerned about what has gone on and how it was dealt with ... I have already spoken to the police and they are looking into it ... the police have been proactive about this.”

He added: “I don’t want people to think this is the norm, it’s an isolated case and there should not be a rise in tensions at all. I want to reassure people we are looking at it.”

West Midlands police said they were aware of the video relating to arrests made by officers in Birmingham on Sunday. “We are quickly gathering as much information as possible and we will undertake an assessment of that information to understand exactly what has happened,” a spokesperson said.

The clip shows a group of men having their van searched. A police officer is then seen speaking to one man who he then kicks. The man is knocked to the ground while officers gather.

The person filming the footage is heard shouting to police saying: “You escalated the situation, it was calm. You’ve kicked his leg and now ... you’re causing tension. You guys are police officers.”

The video has led to criticism of West Midlands police online. Abdul Hamid Faruki tweeted: “The force used seems excessive.” Waseem Zaffar, Labour councillor for Lozells and east Handsworth, said: “On the face of it the police should not behave the way they did, but we cannot prejudge any police investigation. I have been informed by the police that they are collating information and if there is any further information or videos uploaded it’s important that they are handed to the police to help investigation.”

The Labour MP for Birmingham Northfield, Richard Burden, said: “Very worrying images. I am asking for the incident to be investigated.”