Howarth: Full-scale criminal investigation into G20 protest death needed

The video which shows the man who died at last week’s G20 protests in London being hit from behind by a police officer, has been described by David Howarth as "sickening".

Liberal Democrat Shadow Justice Secretary, David Howarth, who attended the protests to monitor police behaviour, went on to say:

"This video clearly shows an unprovoked attack by a police officer on a passer by. It is sickening.

David went on to call for criminal investigation to find out the facts of the incident:

"There must be a full-scale criminal investigation. The officer concerned and the other officers shown in the video must immediately come forward.

"Questions must also be asked about the hyping up of the prospect of violence in the run up to the demonstrations. An atmosphere was created in which this sort of conduct became more likely."

[Green Mail] "The police here are stopping peaceful protest"

Jenny Jones, Green Party Home Affairs spokesperson and London Assembly member, has called senior police in the Met "complacent" over their belief their officers behaved professionally at all times during policing of the G20 protests. Jones labelled the aggressive tactics used by police offices to manage G20 demonstrations as a threat to public safety.

Jones is calling for officers who were needlessly violent to be suspended from public order policing, pending the outcome of an inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

Jenny Jones: "The police's primary objective at all times should be to maintain community safety. Their management of the G20 protests clearly failed in this respect. Any officer involved in needlessly violent actions should be identified and suspended from public order policing pending the outcome of ongoing inquiries."

On Newsnight (7th April 2009), Jones added that:

"Kettling [of protesters] is probably reaching a point where it's a very violent thing to do, and you're beginning to punish the protesters, and potentially, completely innocent people."

"Kettling could create problems of its own -- people get crammed in, and begin behaving differently."

"The Met used to rush in and take troublemakers out of the crowd, and I think that was effective. Treating everybody as guilty is not the way forward."

"Several people have said to me that they won't ever go to demonstrations ever again. That's putting off the very people who want to be there, the people who are not lawbreakers, and want to protest peacefully. The police here are stopping peaceful protest and that is clearly against the law."

Death of Ian Tomlinson: did police "kettling" of demonstrators contribute to death of innocent man?

Jenny Jones, the Metropolitan Police Authority member who has formally complained over police tactics during the G20 demonstrations, has spoken out again today (1).

Ms Jones, a Green Party member of the London Assembly and her party's spokesperson on home affairs, said today:

"I'm very concerned about reports gradually coming out about the death of Ian Tomlinson.

"He appears to have been an innocent man. Did he get caught up in attempts by police and dog handlers to clear this area? Are the reports that he fell while being chased by police true?

"And did the policy of 'kettling' demonstrators contribute to his death?"

She continued: "I will also be seeking reassurances from the Commissioner that there will be no possibility of collusion amongst police officers over statements regarding his death and the IPCC iinvestigation. This was one of the recommendations from the IPCC following the Jean Charles inquiry."

**Eyewitness to death of Ian Tomlinson**

Meanwhile reports have continued to come in to the Green Party's central office from party members who were at the demonstration - including a report from a Manchester Green who watched as Ian Tomlinson died (2). Gayle O'Donovan said today:

"The behaviour of the police was the worst I have seen on any demonstration. Late in the evening we got a call from a friend trapped in the police cordon outside the Bank of England. He had been there for several hours in the heat with no water after receiving a head injury. We were concerned for our friend and others trapped in these conditions. We wanted to bring them water but the police, for reasons best known to themselves, would not allow us to give it out.

"A few minutes later we crossed the road and saw several medics begin CPR on a man lying on the ground. We later found out this to be Mr Tomlinson, the man who died. I certainly didn't see any of the paramedics being pelted with bottles or stones, as was reported by the police.

"It was later divulged that Mr Tomlinson was on his way home from work and probably not a protester. I believe he most likely became trapped due to police tactics on the day. The police were indiscriminate about who they corraled. They shut off an area trapping everyone inside. Parents and children, the elderly and passers-by can often get caught up."

Ms O'Donovan concluded, "The tactic's known as 'kettling' because of the effect it has on those enclosed - basically it raises the temperature and makes an outbreak of anger far more likely. It is a dangerous tactic that I think must now be investigated."