Bouncers suspended as police investigate brawl outside bar
SECURITY staff have been suspended after they were involved in a brawl outside a bar in the Northern Quarter.
The M.E.N. published footage of bouncers throwing punches and kicking out at a group of men outside Lost In Tokyo on Lever Street on the night of December 23.
At one point, a bouncer in a blue vest squares up to a man shouting: “Who’s the b **** ?”
The M.E.N. reader who submitted the video said: “These ‘bouncers’ tonight outside Lost In Tokyo trying to ‘split up’ a fight. Absolutely disgusting behaviour. Bullies!”
She later sent the video to Greater Manchester Police, adding: “Witnessed this from the bouncers outside Lost in Tokyo last night. They beat these boys up real bad and your officers arrived at the scene. Hope this helps.”
Lost In Tokyo did not respond to requests for comment made by the M.E.N.
Police have now confirmed a 27-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of assault at the scene but was released with no further action.
The bouncers involved have been ‘temporarily suspended’ pending the investigation, police said.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police said: “At around 10.45pm on Monday 23 December 2019 police were called to a report of an assault outside a bar on Lever Street in Manchester. A man was detained by security staff after a dispute outside the premises. A 27-year-old man, who was arrested for section 47 assault, has now been released with no further action.
“The security staff involved in the incident have been temporarily suspended as police continue their investigations. “Anyone with information should contact police on 0161 856 4223 quoting incident number 3326 of 23/12/2019, or the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.”
The incident comes just over a year after shocking footage of violence outside Factory 251 nightclub led to seven doormen facing criminal charges and the nightclub temporarily shut down.
Rugby star Joe Sharratt, 18, suffered a serious head injury in the incident on December 2, 2018.
Two of the door staff were charged with grievous bodily harm, while all seven face one count of affray.
A Freedom of Information request submitted by the M.E.N. earlier this year showed bouncers have been arrested over almost 100 violent and sexual crimes in Manchester city centre in the past three years.
Data released under the Freedom of Information Act shows Greater Manchester Police recorded 524 crimes between 2015-18 in the Greater Manchester region where the suspect’s job title was listed as either ‘door staff’ or ‘security guard.’
It is not mandatory for Greater Manchester Police to say whether the suspect’s occupation as a bouncer is relevant to the crime.
However, in many cases it is likely it was because of the location of the offence.