Undercover police working on a firearms investigation have admitted to arresting the wrong man in broad daylight in Southport.
A video circulated online shows a man being detained by more than 7 undercover police officers outside the Auld Dubliner bar on Lord Street on Monday afternoon.
Videos of the incident show the man, who was sitting down on a bench outside the pub, being swooped on by plain clothes officers with face masks before he protests his innocence.
Onlookers filmed the scene and quickly shared footage of it to social media, criticising police for their perceived heavy handed approach.
It’s since been revealed the specialist officers were working for Greater Manchester Police.
Witnesses said they watched on as officers eventually realised they had detained the wrong man, a fact police have now confirmed.
A spokesperson for the force told the Liverpool Echo that they had initially detained the man on suspicion of firearms offences.
They said: “GMP officers detained a man on 12/5/25 on suspicion of firearms offences in Southport on behalf of our Force Critical Wanted Unit – he was subsequently released.”
A different man from Wigan was later detained on what is understood to be the same offences