Police demand Instagram removes post wrongly linking officer to Manchester kidnap case
West Midlands Police say one of their own innocent officers has been wrongly identified as the defendant
West Midlands Police are demanding Instagram remove a post that used an image of one of their officers alongside a case he has no connection to.
The force said it became aware on the night of 11th August that an Instagram account had used a photograph of a serving Birmingham officer as the background image for a post about a criminal charge involving Greater Manchester Police.
The post referred to the charging of a Greater Manchester Police student officer over the rape and kidnap of a woman in Manchester.
West Midlands Police said the image used alongside that post was 'completely inaccurate' and did not show the officer named in the GMP case.
The force said the officer pictured is a serving Birmingham officer who is 'completely unconnected' to the case and say they recognise the "huge distress" it's having on him, his family and friends.
West Midlands Police said it has been in direct contact with Meta since being notified, seeking to have the image removed 'at the earliest opportunity'.
Assistant Chief Constable Ian Parnell said the force 'condemns in the strongest possible terms' the wrongful identification of the officer.
The force said local supervisors are supporting the officer, and that it is pursuing 'all available avenues' to have the post removed and to take action against the account behind it.
West Midlands Police said it is asking for the local community's support while it works to address the incorrect content.