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| Ian Tomlinson family receive Met police payout over G20 death | Ian Tomlinson family receive Met police payout over G20 death |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Met Police has apologised to the family of Ian Tomlinson and reached an out-of-court settlement over his death at the G20 protests in London in 2009. | The Met Police has apologised to the family of Ian Tomlinson and reached an out-of-court settlement over his death at the G20 protests in London in 2009. |
| The force apologised "unreservedly" for the "excessive and unlawful force" used by one of its officers. | The force apologised "unreservedly" for the "excessive and unlawful force" used by one of its officers. |
| Mr Tomlinson had been walking home when he was struck with a baton and pushed to the ground by then-PC Simon Harwood. | Mr Tomlinson had been walking home when he was struck with a baton and pushed to the ground by then-PC Simon Harwood. |
| His widow, Julia, said the apology was "as close as we are going to get to justice". | His widow, Julia, said the apology was "as close as we are going to get to justice". |
| She also said the family could "finally start looking to the future again". | She also said the family could "finally start looking to the future again". |
| Mr Tomlinson's widow and seven of his children and step-children had pursued the compensation claim. The amount will remain confidential. | |
| 'Far below' | 'Far below' |
| Deputy Assistant Commissioner Maxine de Brunner said in a statement: "I apologise unreservedly for Simon Harwood's use of excessive and unlawful force which caused Mr Tomlinson's death, and for the suffering and distress caused to his family as a result." | Deputy Assistant Commissioner Maxine de Brunner said in a statement: "I apologise unreservedly for Simon Harwood's use of excessive and unlawful force which caused Mr Tomlinson's death, and for the suffering and distress caused to his family as a result." |
| The statement also said that all litigation between the force and the Tomlinson family had been resolved. | The statement also said that all litigation between the force and the Tomlinson family had been resolved. |
| "An out-of-court settlement has been agreed that acknowledges the suffering Julia Tomlinson and the family have endured with dignity over the last four years. | "An out-of-court settlement has been agreed that acknowledges the suffering Julia Tomlinson and the family have endured with dignity over the last four years. |
| Mr Tomlinson, a 47-year-old newspaper seller, collapsed minutes after being struck with a baton and died of internal bleeding, in what was later found by an inquest jury to be an unlawful killing. | Mr Tomlinson, a 47-year-old newspaper seller, collapsed minutes after being struck with a baton and died of internal bleeding, in what was later found by an inquest jury to be an unlawful killing. |
| Though Mr Harwood was acquitted last year of manslaughter, he was later sacked by the Met Police for gross misconduct. | Though Mr Harwood was acquitted last year of manslaughter, he was later sacked by the Met Police for gross misconduct. |
| Ms de Brunner said: "I take full responsibility for the actions of Simon Harwood on 1 April 2009. His actions fell far below the standard we expect from our officers. I accept the finding of the inquest that Mr Tomlinson was unlawfully killed." | Ms de Brunner said: "I take full responsibility for the actions of Simon Harwood on 1 April 2009. His actions fell far below the standard we expect from our officers. I accept the finding of the inquest that Mr Tomlinson was unlawfully killed." |
| She went on: "The commissioner also apologises to the family for ill-considered comments made in the media in the immediate aftermath of Mr Tomlinson's death which served to distract attention away from the investigation into the death." | She went on: "The commissioner also apologises to the family for ill-considered comments made in the media in the immediate aftermath of Mr Tomlinson's death which served to distract attention away from the investigation into the death." |
| 'Got it wrong' | 'Got it wrong' |
| Mr Tomlinson was caught up in the G20 demonstrations in the City of London as he walked home in April 2009. | Mr Tomlinson was caught up in the G20 demonstrations in the City of London as he walked home in April 2009. |
| His encounter with then-PC Harwood was caught on film by a bystander who passed the footage to the Guardian newspaper. | His encounter with then-PC Harwood was caught on film by a bystander who passed the footage to the Guardian newspaper. |
| Ms de Brunner said it was a "matter of deep regret that Mr Tomlinson's family learned of the nature of his contact with Simon Harwood through the press", and the commissioner also apologised for the information given by a Met Police officer to the pathologists "that misled them initially as to the cause of death". | Ms de Brunner said it was a "matter of deep regret that Mr Tomlinson's family learned of the nature of his contact with Simon Harwood through the press", and the commissioner also apologised for the information given by a Met Police officer to the pathologists "that misled them initially as to the cause of death". |
| "While we are satisfied that the officer's actions were inadvertent, and not designed to mislead the pathologists, this should not have happened and I apologise to the family for the additional distress it caused them," she said. | "While we are satisfied that the officer's actions were inadvertent, and not designed to mislead the pathologists, this should not have happened and I apologise to the family for the additional distress it caused them," she said. |
| Following Mr Tomlinson's death, it subsequently emerged that Mr Harwood had faced several allegations of misconduct during his time in the police service. | Following Mr Tomlinson's death, it subsequently emerged that Mr Harwood had faced several allegations of misconduct during his time in the police service. |
| In 2000, while off-duty, he was involved in what was described at the inquest as a "road rage" incident. He retired from the Met Police on medical grounds in 2001 before a disciplinary hearing could take place. | In 2000, while off-duty, he was involved in what was described at the inquest as a "road rage" incident. He retired from the Met Police on medical grounds in 2001 before a disciplinary hearing could take place. |
| He then joined Surrey Police before being re-employed by Scotland Yard in 2004, despite an allegation of misconduct while at Surrey. | He then joined Surrey Police before being re-employed by Scotland Yard in 2004, despite an allegation of misconduct while at Surrey. |
| Ms de Brunner said the force had "got it wrong" when it came to disciplining Mr Harwood, stressing the case had highlighted "significant failings in the vetting procedures" at the Met. | Ms de Brunner said the force had "got it wrong" when it came to disciplining Mr Harwood, stressing the case had highlighted "significant failings in the vetting procedures" at the Met. |
| "It is clear that insufficient recording and checks meant that detailed information regarding the officer's misconduct history was not shared at key points," she said. | "It is clear that insufficient recording and checks meant that detailed information regarding the officer's misconduct history was not shared at key points," she said. |
| Mrs Tomlinson said that as soon as the family saw the footage of her husband being shoved to the ground, they "knew Ian had been unlawfully killed by the officer" and it had been a "really hard uphill battle" to get to the truth. | Mrs Tomlinson said that as soon as the family saw the footage of her husband being shoved to the ground, they "knew Ian had been unlawfully killed by the officer" and it had been a "really hard uphill battle" to get to the truth. |
| "After the unlawful killing verdict at the inquest it was unimaginable to us that PC Harwood could be acquitted of the criminal charge of manslaughter. | "After the unlawful killing verdict at the inquest it was unimaginable to us that PC Harwood could be acquitted of the criminal charge of manslaughter. |
| "We will never understand that verdict, but at least today's public admission of unlawful killing by the Metropolitan Police is the final verdict, and it is as close as we are going to get to justice." | "We will never understand that verdict, but at least today's public admission of unlawful killing by the Metropolitan Police is the final verdict, and it is as close as we are going to get to justice." |