Representatives for Gypsy and Traveller children who were allegedly forced on to trains and prevented from visiting Manchester’s Christmas markets have instructed human rights lawyers to bring a complaint against Greater Manchester police (GMP).
The Traveller Movement, a national charity, has instructed Ryan Bradshaw, a human rights partner at Leigh Day, to bring a complaint against the force on several grounds, with allegations including false imprisonment, negligence, excessive use of force, and safeguarding failures.
The complaint also raises potential contraventions of the Equality Act, the European convention on human rights and the Human Rights Act.
Yvonne MacNamara, the charity’s chief executive, 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.”
After the incident, which took place last month, footage was posted to social media showing young people being herded on to trains at Manchester Victoria station. One boy was heard shouting: “I don’t know where I’m going.”
A woman later told the Manchester Evening News that her children had ended up more than 100 miles away in Grimsby.
One parent of two boys aged 10 and 13 said the incident had “left my children traumatised, and it has shattered any faith we had in the system that is supposed to safeguard them”.
They said: “As a parent, I am outraged by how my children were treated. My 13-year-old son was manhandled, shouted at and forced on to 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.”
The charity alleges that the children, some of whom are from Irish Traveller backgrounds, and some Romani Gypsy, were unlawfully targeted and racially profiled.
Bradshaw 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 GMP spokesperson said: “We understand the concerns expressed by the Traveller Movement charity today. Our professional standards directorate is committed to reviewing all complaints made to us.
“Just under two weeks ago, we met with representatives from the Romani Gypsy and Irish Traveller community, including the Traveller Movement, to begin addressing their concerns relating to events on 23 November 2024. This forum was open and constructive, and we expressed our regret at the distress and upset these events had caused. We look forward to working more closely with community representatives going forwards.”
