A police officer was battered by a suspect after a colleague tampered with her handcuffs for a joke.
The prank went badly wrong when the cop, serving with GMP in Salford, was trying to arrest a man.
He was able to free his hands from the cuffs before attacking the officer.
It is understood a device on the handcuffs, which if pressed locks the cuffs, had been tampered with. As a result, they did not tighten around the suspect's wrists.
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GMP has launched an investigation. Bosses are trying to identify the person responsible.
The man who attacked the officer has since been jailed for the assault.
After the incident, a senior officer spoke 'robustly' to front line cops about the stupidity of the prank.
In a statement, GMP said: "We can confirm an incident did occur in Salford last month (October) where an officer was assaulted after a fault with the handcuffs being used to detain a suspect.
"It is believed the cuffs had been tampered with and a senior officer spoke firmly and robustly to front-line officers on the district to make clear such behaviour is completely intolerable - with the culprit to be dealt with accordingly.
"No one responsible has yet been identified. We can confirm an incident did occur in Salford last month (October) where an officer was assaulted after a fault with the handcuffs being used to detain a suspect.
"The injured officer returned to work and is continuing to be supported by her supervisors.
"The incident is being included in future Police Safety Training to warn officers of the serious consequences of such behaviour."
It is understood the incident is being regarded as a reckless prank, rather than something more sinister.
The culprit will face disciplinary action if identified.
