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Independent probe into G20 death G20 police 'yet to come forward'
(30 minutes later)
A police watchdog said it is working to identify officers in video footage of a man pushed to the ground at the G20 protest minutes before his death. A police watchdog said officers caught on video shoving a man to the ground during a G20 protest minutes before his death have yet to come forward.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) also announced it would request a second post-mortem test as part of an independent inquiry. An independent probe was under way into the death of Ian Tomlinson, 47, who had a heart attack minutes after walking away from being pushed by an officer.
The decision was made after footage surfaced of Ian Tomlinson being shoved. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) also said it would request a second post mortem test.
Mr Tomlinson, 47, suffered a heart attack several minutes after walking away from being pushed by an officer. The decision was made after footage surfaced of Mr Tomlinson being shoved.
The IPCC said it will examine the footage. Investigators said several police officers captured on camera as the newspaper seller was pushed to the ground have yet to come forward.
Following Mr Tomlinson's death the IPCC said it will oversee an investigation into the incident which will be carried out by the City of London police. The IPCC said it will examine the footage from 1 April and will discuss it with the Crown Prosecution Service.
This is a criminal investigation and we will, of course, be discussing it with the Crown Prosecution Service Deborah Glass, IPCC
Following Mr Tomlinson's death the IPCC had said it will oversee an investigation into the incident which will be carried out by the City of London police.
Deborah Glass, of the IPCC, explained the decision to take over the investigation: "People are rightly concerned about this tragic death and this footage is clearly disturbing.
"In light of new information which we became aware of yesterday (Tuesday) evening, we have now taken the decision to independently investigate.
Ian Tomlinson lived and worked in the City of London
"People have been calling for a criminal investigation. I want to stress that, from the outset of all our investigations, we consider whether criminal offences have been committed.
"This is a criminal investigation and we will, of course, be discussing it with the Crown Prosecution Service.
"At the moment the investigation is focused on identifying the officers in the footage. Several have already come forward and all efforts are being made to trace those who haven't.
Ms Glass appealed for more people to submit any other video footage of the incident.
The video, shot at 1929 BST at the Royal Exchange Passage on 1 April, initially shows Mr Tomlinson, who was going home from work and not protesting, walking away from a group of police officers.
The footage, recorded by a New York fund manager, shows him receiving a two-handed push from an officer, landing heavily before remonstrating with the police.
Minutes later Mr Tomlinson collapsed and died of a heart attack, after walking to nearby Cornhill where he received first aid from police.
After the new footage surfaced Mr Tomlinson's stepson Paul King has told the BBC the family "want answers".After the new footage surfaced Mr Tomlinson's stepson Paul King has told the BBC the family "want answers".
Earlier the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said the images raised "obvious concerns" and pledged full support from the Met.
The Guardian newspaper obtained the video and has handed it to the IPCC.
Opposition MPs have called for a criminal investigation into the death.
Reasonable force
The police have well-established powers to use reasonable force if they think there is a threat either to themselves or the public, but these are enhanced during a protest or riot.
  • The key concept is that of "reasonable force" - i.e. force that is in proportion to the threat faced either by the public, the police or property
  • Thus "reasonable force" may literally range from putting a hand on someone's elbow, to shooting them dead
  • The legislation governing police powers during demonstrations (mostly the Public Order Act 1986) must also be seen in context of human rights' legislation
  • Under European human rights' laws the police are required to actively protect the public's right to peaceful protest
  • Policing during a protest, therefore, is a negotiation between the rights of police to use reasonable force to protect the public, and their responsibility to allow peaceful protest to take place
LOCATION OF IAN TOMLINSON AND G20 PROTESTS IN CITY OF LONDON 1. Protests at Bank Junction
2. Protest outside RBS branch in Threadneedle Street
3. Protests outside Bank of England
4. Climate Change tent city on Bishopsgate
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