G20 death: Police officer suspended

[Peikko 1,575]

Link

Scotland Yard today suspended the officer captured on video hitting and pushing a man who died at the G20 protest in London, the Guardian has learned.

The decision by police chiefs comes nearly 48 hours after they were alerted by the Guardian to the video of the officer in riot gear striking Ian Tomlinson with a baton and then pushing him to the ground. Minutes later Tomlinson, a 47-year-old newspaper seller, died from what a postmortem concluded was a heart attack...

Other developments since the Guardian's revelations include:

• The IPCC reversing its decision to allow City of London police officers to investigate the death.

• A second postmortem examination ordered as the IPCC confirmed that it would conduct a criminal investigation.

• Several top-level crisis meetings inside Scotland Yard.

• The Crown Prosecution Service liaising with the IPCC over possible charges.

• The emergence of Channel 4 footage, taken from another angle, which clearly shows the officer hitting Tomlinson with his baton before pushing him to the ground...

Edited April 9, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Looks like they tried to sweep it under the carpet, but had to backpedal after it got traction in the news.

Not as appalling as the shooting of the Brazilian Electrician. That really was appalling - and I can't believe noone was sent to prison for that.

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't have an 'appalling' scale but yes, both cases show an alarming lack of judgment by elements in the police force. The acts themselves bad enough, the 'cover ups' rather worse, in my opinion.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

I don't know, but I've always been told to avoid "mobs" and areas "protests" are in.

Just to avoid being caught up in any action like this.

One could say how would the police know he wasn't involved in the protest?

Not that I am condoning what the police did, and it looks like they will investigate it.

Will have to wait to see what the outcome will be.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

I don't have an 'appalling' scale but yes, both cases show an alarming lack of judgment by elements in the police force. The acts themselves bad enough, the 'cover ups' rather worse, in my opinion.

True - but the outcome is important also. No-one was deemed to be legally responsible for the shooting death of Mr Menezes, which has left a very bad taste in the mouths of a lot of people and diminished confidence in the Police, The Crown Prosecution Service, and the Police Complaints Commission. I can't understand how police officers can board a train and shoot someone in the head 7 times (they missed once) without this being (at least) a gross misuse of their power and authority. There was barely any handwringing about it either from the Blair government.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It doesn't bode well for this case, but perhaps they'll handle it differently.

[Peikko 1,575]

Pretty much how I feel - the government distanced themselves from that case because it was politically difficult during the 'war on terror' such as it is laughably called. It will be interesting to see if they handle this better.

I agree in a way, that this case is not so 'bad' simply because the police were indulging in a bit of roughing up on this occasion, rather than a blatant execution.