Criminal case call over G20 death

[Turborama]

Source: BBC

The Liberal Democrats are demanding a criminal inquiry after video footage of the G20 protest showed a police officer pushing over a man who later died.

=snip=

Lib Dem justice spokesman David Howarth said the footage showed a "sickening and unprovoked attack" by police.

=snip=

Reacting to the footage, Mr Howarth said: "This video clearly shows an unprovoked attack by a police officer on a passer-by. It is sickening. There must be a full-scale criminal investigation. The officer concerned and the other officers shown in the video must immediately come forward."

Daniel Sandford, BBC Home Affairs correspondent, said of the footage: "This is now going to raise some more serious questions about the police behaviour on that night. Why is it that one of the officers walks up to a man who appears to be walking away from him?"

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7989027.stm

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Mr Tomlinson's family have appealed
for witnesses

(I posted this separately from the earlier video story as it's a new development resulting from it.)

[Matilda]

1. It's a sad fact that the more power police have, the more they abuse it.

This applies to every police force in every country in the world; no country has a monopoly on police violence.

I should hope that this won't turn out to be another de Menezes-style whitewash; this time, there appear to be plenty
of witnesses as well as the video.

[Turborama]

2. Interview with two eyewitnesses of G20 Death (video)

Interesting to hear 1st hand accounts of what happened that day...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTCwQt3zBq8
Interview with two eyewitnesses of the events preceding the death of Ian Tomlinson, the man who died during anti G20 protests in the City of London on the 1st of April.

They can be contacted through this press liasion email: [e-mail]

Video is edited down for youtube's special needs, find full version and written statement at:
http://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/1019

[B Whale]

4. The MET in particular has become a political; police force

Their whole approach to these recent demonstrations was designed to intimidate protestors into not taking part in demonstrations. On the run up they also rang up organisors to threaten them it would get very violent.

They have also been building a general database of political activists (which is illegal) and used 'the kettle' for this end as well. They weren't letting anyone go until they were photgraphed and gave their details.

They are getting very sinister. i think there should be a widespread inquiry into their tactics as a whole. (although i doubt it)

[Matilda]

7. I know just what you're saying.

We have a similar style police force in N.S.W., which has some of the
toughest "anti-people" laws in this country.

Funny, my late father-in-law used to be a bobby in England, after the
war, but when he emigrated to Australia he wouldn't join the force here
because it was too corrupt. I don't think he'd recognise the police
force he used to work for.

[B Whale]

8. I certainly doubt it. Where i'm from the MET are remembered for being bussed up

as a private miltia for the Tory party to crack the skulls of striking miners.

The stereotypical British Bobby no longer exists unfortunately, as your late father in law probably exemplified used to be envied around the world.

The British police has a very different history to other police forces across Europe. They were never town guards, or militia as other europen police forces were, they were designed specifically to be citizens in uniform policing by consent with the public. That has vanished.

[PatrynXX]

3. Nothings changed over there has it :(

Reminds one of In the name of the father and Gerry Conlon

sigh.

[Turborama]

5. G20 protests death: officer could face manslaughter charge (update)

Former deputy assistant commissioner calls for independent inquiry into death of newspaper vendor after police attack

Guardian

Vikram Dodd
April 2009 13.31 BST

Brian Paddick, a former top Scotland Yard officer, today demanded that police should be removed from investigating the death of Ian Tomlinson at last week's G20 protests, and said any officer who struck the innocent passerby could face a manslaughter charge.

But video footage obtained by The Guardian of the minutes before Tomlinson's death clearly shows officers from the City of London force in close proximity to the newspaper seller when he was struck. Paddick, a former deputy assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan police, said these officers from the City of London force would be key witnesses in the investigation.

=snip=

Paddick told the Guardian: "How can the City of London do the investigation independently? I'm sorry but there are three City of London officers in that video, how can they do the investigation? It certainly needs to be a full-blown criminal investigation ... whether there is a provable link between the death and assault, because an assault is a criminal offence. Police are allowed to use force, provided it is justified."

=snip=

Paddick refused to comment on whether the police actions in the video were justified, but said the officer seen striking Tomlinson could potentially face a charge of manslaughter, for which the maximum penalty is life imprisonment: "If it is held that there is a link between the violence he was inflicting and the heart attack , that then is an assault, resulting in death, albeit unintended. If a court held it is an assault, it is an unlawful action resulting in manslaughter."

More: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/08/tomlinson-g20-protests


Guardian.co.uk footage of Ian Tomlinson walking past police dog handlers
during the G20 protests in London. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

[sythe200]

6. The sad truth is that this kind of thing has been happening more and more in our own country as well

The police have been gaining more and more power and they abuse it with impunity.