Police have apologised after a nurse was handcuffed outside a children’s hospital.

The medic was detained outside Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital on suspicion of obstructing an officer last Saturday.

Onlookers were left ‘horrified’ as the woman was ‘berated’ and then restrained, with the cuffs causing injuries to her wrist.

It followed a ‘disagreement’ over the welfare of a teenage girl who had been reported missing.

Police have apologised to the medic after she was detained before being ‘de-arrested’ minutes later.

The officer involved has been taken away from frontline duties while an investigation is carried out.

Officers wanted to ‘make sure she was safe and well’, Greater Manchester Police said in a statement.

Police have also apologised to senior hospital leaders for the ‘disappointing way this incident escalated’.

A complaint has been made to the police professional standards branch. GMP has also made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct following the incident.

Assistant Chief Constable Wasim Chaudhry said: ‘We’ve apologised to a nurse and her colleagues for the understandable concern and distress caused after an officer handcuffed the nurse during an arrest outside Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital on Saturday afternoon.

‘Our Professional Standards Directorate has received a complaint and we’ve taken the arresting officer away from frontline duties while we conduct initial enquiries – including reviewing full body-worn footage of the incident. We are also making a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

‘The arrest was made on suspicion of obstructing an officer following a disagreement about the best course of action for the welfare of a teenage girl – who had earlier been reported missing, and we wanted to ensure she was safe and well.

‘The nurse was de-arrested by a second officer minutes later, and a senior officer has since spoken directly to her and senior leaders at the hospital to apologise for the alarming and disappointing way this incident escalated.

‘Every day we work closely with all partners in the health service across Greater Manchester to support and protect those most in need, and this incident is not reflective of the strong partnership working we advocate on a daily basis.’

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