Video of Manchester Police Officers Hitting a Man on the Ground With Handcuffs Sparks Outrage, But Longer Footage Reveals What Happened Before Then
A video showing a confrontation between police officers and a man in Manchester’s Piccadilly Gardens has caused a lot of reactions on social media, with many people questioning how the officers handled the situation.
The incident, which reportedly happened in September, began when police officers approached a man they suspected of being involved in drugs. The officers reportedly wanted to search him, but the situation quickly became heated and turned into a physical confrontation.
According to police, the man became violent and assaulted two officers during the incident. One officer reportedly suffered a suspected broken jaw, while another sustained a concussion. The man was later arrested on suspicion of assault.
When footage of the incident first appeared on X, formerly known as Twitter, many people criticised the police officers after seeing what appeared to be an officer hitting a man who was already lying on the ground.
Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester.
Greater manchester police using handcuffs as a weapon. Is that official police training? @gmpolice pic.twitter.com/HU2aupWMtG— PATRIOTS OF BRITAIN (@POB4LIFE) November 4, 2026
Some social media users accused the officers of acting unprofessionally and using unnecessary force. Others questioned why an officer would continue striking someone who appeared to be helpless and surrounded by police.
However, a longer version of the footage shared online appeared to show what happened before the man ended up on the ground.
In the extended video, the man could be seen physically confronting the officers and throwing punches at them. During the struggle, one of his punches appeared to knock an officer’s cap off his head.
The confrontation continued as officers attempted to bring the man under control and place him under arrest.
When the man was eventually brought to the ground, the footage appeared to show him keeping his hands underneath his body, making it difficult for the officers to put handcuffs on him.
As the officers struggled to secure his hands, one officer appeared to strike the man’s hands or arms with handcuffs in an attempt to get him to release them.
This was the part of the incident that had initially caused anger among social media users, particularly those who had only seen the shorter clip.
The longer footage has now raised further questions about what happened during the confrontation and whether the officers’ actions were justified in the circumstances.
While some viewers believe the extended video provides important context about the man’s behaviour before his arrest, others may still question whether the level of force used by the officers was necessary.
Video of Manchester Police Officers Hitting a Man on the Ground With Handcuffs Sparks Outrage, But Longer Footage Reveals What Happened Before Then pic.twitter.com/jZ2RA7c79D— iaelimited.com (@birminghamgist) November 5, 2026
The incident also shows how a short video shared on social media may not always capture everything that happened before or after a confrontation.
Police have maintained that two officers were injured during the incident, and the man was arrested on suspicion of assault.
