Police ‘went at me like animals’

DANIEL shows off some of his injuries

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Complaint after Daniel ‘beaten’ in 4am arrest

A 17-year-old Chadderton youth has lodged a complaint against the police over claims that they beat him so badly during his arrest that they left footprints on his arms.

Daniel Burns was also left with a black eye and cuts to his head and arms after he alleges police subjected him to a vicious beating as they arrested him in the early hours of the morning on suspicion of burglary.

The drama unfolded when four officers burst into the home that Daniel shares with his mum in Whitstable Close on October 7.

Daniel says that the officers came into his room while he was sleeping and told him that they were taking him to the station.

When he said he hadn’t done anything wrong, they hit him on the head with handcuffs, before jumping on top of him and raining blows on his head.

He alleges that another officer kicked him in the side at the same time, and that the attack only stopped when he placed his hands behind his back to be handcuffed.

He also claims that the officers kneeed and punched him while he was handcuffed and being led to the police van.

He said: “The police were disgusting, they went at me like animals. They had taken my mum out of my room during the attack and she was screaming at them to call an ambulance, it was awful.”

Daniel’s injuries were so severe that police broke off their questioning to take him to the Royal Oldham Hospital, where staff treated a cut to his head.

He was taken back to the police station and eventually released without charge.

Daniel said: “I might not have reacted very quickly at first, but it was 4.30 in the morning, so I was just trying to come round, and then they hit me with the handcuffs and I was just in total shock.

“I didn’t put my hands behind my back at first because I thought they would just keep hitting me anyway. I still don’t believe it justifies their behaviour. There were four of them and one of me and they were behaving like thugs.

“I just want to see them punished, either with a warning, a suspension or sacking, just to show that this kind of behaviour isn’t acceptable.”

Daniel’s grandmother Diane Burns is consulting a solicitor and the police are expected to launch an investigation.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesman said: “Greater Manchester Police has received a complaint from a 17-year-old boy regarding the conduct of officers during his arrest.

“The complaint has been submitted to GMP’s Professional Standards Branch.”