An alleged racist assault against a teenager who works at Old Trafford on matchday by security staff outside the ground was not captured by CCTV as the cameras were facing in the wrong direction.
Kamarl Nelson, 19, was allegedly pushed against a wall and put in a headlock in what is said to have been a racially aggravated incident.
It is said to have happened before a Europa League match last month.
The student in question sustained a fractured eye socket and bruised ribs and is said to have been called a “slave” by security guards who were “surprised” to not have found a knife after searching his bag.
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The GMP launched an investigation last week, although no arrests have been made.
According to The Guardian, Nelson’s mother, Donna James, said her son had been informed that officers watched eight hours of CCTV and the alleged assault was not caught on camera. They seen him making his way to security before the subsequent confrontation.
“They [police] said that because the camera isn’t static it moves around so it’s not picked up the incident, which sounds odd — this is outside the front of Old Trafford. It doesn’t sound right at all.”
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She added: “As a family we just want justice to be served. We wouldn’t like this to happen to someone (else’s] son or daughter.”
However, the officers in question haven’t always been consistent with this case. Kids of Colour, the community interest group supporting Nelson, said police initially told the teenager on 8 March — a week after the alleged incident — that there was no CCTV available.
Just days later, officers told the family that eight hours’ worth of footage from Manchester United’s cameras had been recovered and they were examining it.
Why then did they say there was no footage? Maybe they weren’t expecting such a social media backlash from these claims and wanted to sweep it under the carpet.
Without any evidence those in question may well get away with their vile actions. A total injustice.
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