• ‘Tough guys’ of the Met
• Evening Standard comment: Hard questions for Sir Paul
• Pictures: Clashes at the G20 summit
• Brutal baton attack has left victim ‘deeply traumatised’

Reader views (103)

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Interesting to note policing of the G20 rallies was called "Operation Glencoe". Historically, Glencoe was a massacre of the innocents, the English 'ethnically cleansing' the Scottish Highlands. Makes me wonder who named 'Operation Kratos', the elite operation leading to the public execution of an innocent man in Stockwell. Perhaps someone preoccupied with the Playstation 3 game "God Of War"? Makes me shudder.

- Exasperated Fat Mum, London, 16/04/2009 10:12
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"From what I have seen, in each case the police used batons to the backs of peoples legs to "encourage" them to obey legitimate instructions to move on. Personally I believe that is very restrained use of force."

Alan, are you serious? I think maybe you need to feel passionate about something, stand up for it and then see how a few cracks on the back of the legs feels like...

Do we live in South Africa in the seventies or Germany 1940 or is that what you're looking for?

- Mark, St Albans, 16/04/2009 09:57
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Frank from Home Counties-I'm not sure if you're a real poster are you?! I work in finance, am middle class, am a capitalist and was protesting at unlimited Govt support for bad debt from private business (banks) whose losses have now been transferred to the hard working tax payer. And that means YOU.
Force will be met by force? If you got out of your (fictional?) armchair then you would have seen that the police were responsible for increasing tension levels and the majority of protestors were peaceful-no force was needed.
I was 'kettled' from 12.30 along with everyone else. We were hardly a hardcore bunch of protestors. We were aggressively pushed back by a line of police that were shouting commands in unison that was extremely intimidating.
If you were there, you would also know that a lot of the violence from protestors was EXTREMELY SMALL. Look at the photos of RBS being smshed. How many people were doing the damage-about 3? How many photographers were there to record it-about 20? The police tactics and aggression were designed to create a situation where they could crack some (largely innocent) heads. Oh-have you seen what happend at the Climate Change camp-did you think that was Force being met with Force?
Strange-no media footage of any firebombs, no police mention of it-fiction perhaps?

- Ted, London UK, 16/04/2009 09:54
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20 years of lack of discipline in schools means that many adults are not used to being told what to do. They ignore instructions from those in authority, and moan to Max Clifford when they get punished. If protesters ignore instructions from a police officer, they should know they'll get a baton blow. Anywhere else in Europe it would be much more.

- Martin H. Watson, Teddington, 16/04/2009 09:51
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So much speculation is taking place based on video clips which do not show, so far as I know, the full stories leading up to the incidents.

From what I have seen, in each case the police used batons to the backs of peoples legs to "encourage" them to obey legitimate instructions to move on. Personally I believe that is very restrained use of force.

- Allan, London, UK., 16/04/2009 08:53
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The Police are damned if they do and damned if they don't in this country. As far as I'm concerned next time there is any kind of protest I think the police should just stand back and let the protesters smash anything and everything. After all we can easily afford the repairs bill, seeing as this country is in debt up to its eyeballs. Yes, let's have anarchy! We can then see how many people have a good old whinge about that and complain of non-action from the police. They are supposed to keep boundaries and that was what they were doing, if she had surged forward many others would have followed. I have no sympathy for her, she was told, she ignored him and then carried on regardless.

- Sue, Orpington, Kent, 16/04/2009 08:47
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As the old nursery rhyme goes:- Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me. Or similar words to that effect. As a professional law enforcer the policeman overstepped his mark by slashing the woman with a baton. He should have been able to take any amount of verbal abuse without physically retaliating. The fact that he has been suspended reinforces my belief. Having said that the loudmouthed bag deserved everything she got.

- Cyrjames, Berwick-Upon-Tweed, UK., 16/04/2009 08:24
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I am amazed at the number of people who are simply making up what happened. Look at the video.

The woman was remonstrating with the officer after someone was violently wrestled to the floor for the grevious crime of of trying to leave.

It's ugly.

- Bob, birmingham, 15/04/2009 23:48
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Kudos to A.J.M., Kingsbury for rightly predicting that she'd hire Max Clifford. Sickening. Lock the pair of them up in a cell and throw away the key.

- Ken, London, 15/04/2009 23:12
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steve meday absolutely right

- Jack, london, 15/04/2009 23:03
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I'm surprised there's any officers left in the Police force. For goodness sake lay off them. They're not all perfect, but look at the rent-a-rabble they have to deal with, not to mention hundreds of photographers looking to earn a swift buck by getting pictures which may be misleading.

- Annabelle, london, 15/04/2009 22:42
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Anybody at thagt demonstration got exactly what they deserved. What a mamby pamby country this is. Any other EU country would have had the water cannon and troops out to stop any violence. This country - No -to frightened of our own bloody shadows. Leave the police to do their job and if the the meantime you are in a demonstration and acting irresponsibly then accept the consequences.

- Louie, London, South East, 15/04/2009 22:29
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I went for a walk after work and watched both the police and the protesters. In fairness the police done a superb job in keeping these trouble makers in one area. All I saw of the protesters were pathetic trouble makers and photographers running around the outside of the blocks trying to get the perfect picture.
What a time we live in where police doing their jobs have to start wearing mittens and asking people nicely to please calm down or be filmed by a bunch of losers.
Pathetic.

- Rich, London, 15/04/2009 22:07
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You often see Policeman now with shaven heads and thuggish in appearance..At times this combined with the "Power Of Authority" may give some officers carte blanche to overstep this Authority..Unfortunately with TV/Media and CCTV these days Police Officers whom think they can get away brutal attacks on the public will be made accountable....

- Justice, London, 15/04/2009 21:58
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Interesting, listen very carefully to the audio on the video footage, from the start you see and hear a black guy asking to leave the demonstration to get food. He has a newspaper he is pushed in the chest by a white officer and drops his paper, he bends down to pick it up as he rises he appears to be punched in the face by the same officer the crowd get agitated. Assault and should be charged with it too!

Mr TSG starts pushing people including the woman who replies/ remonstrates "why you pushing a woman". At this point he reverse slaps her, then subsequently administers his beating to her.

On the Tomlinson issue if you or I pushed a copper over and he died of a heart attack we would be on a murder charge - quite right too. We shall see if justice will prevail. After Jean Charles de Menezes and the recent racist thuggery by the METs TSG I suspect they will reap a whirlwind if justice is not seen to be done here.

- James, Menai, Anglesey, 15/04/2009 21:28
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So what would these benefits wasters do faced with a screaming mob hurling bricks and abuse at them. Just stand there and smile. I think not. Let's face it the police were under severe provocation seeing some of their colleagues with blood streaming down their faces

- Trevn, Bedale, 15/04/2009 21:19
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Gc London

and if you bother to look at the other pictures she's clearly within his personal space , even touching the officer at some point.
I dont defend police often and as i stated before, the officer that pushed the fella who later had a heart attack should be removed from the service immediately. However in this case i still firmly believe she got what she deserves cos she was aggressive no matter how you dress it up.

The police do in special circumstances need to use force if they feel it is required and looking at some of the pictures it looks like some of these protestors were constantly ignoring his pleas to get back.........how more chances do people get beofre they feel the end of a coppers stick??

Ian Tomlinson i have sympathy for, however this creature has very little sympathy from me.

- Steve, Medway,England, 15/04/2009 17:17
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As for "invading his personal space", the main picture says it all - he had to advance to hit her and was hardly under threat. I suppose we should just be surprised he attacked from the front/side rather than from behind.

- Gc, London, 15/04/2009 16:49
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From the comments here I wonder if many of the people here spouting anti-protest rubbish have ever even been to a rally in their lives or do they just prefer to prejudge and lay their misconceptions without thinking beyond their small world. Frankly it's disheartening to see so many commenting from the height of their office chairs willing to sweep & tag a large section of people as unwashed lazy scroungers with nothing better to do. A majority of the individuals (yes, sadly there are exceptions) who go to protest do so because they actually care about the long term consequences of the selfish decisions made now. Not everyone (fortunately!) live their lives by the "looking out for number one" motto.

Kim Brookes, London --> I agree & second that.

- Eddy, London, 15/04/2009 16:25
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Goodness - you're all getting into a tizz! I remember once deliberately provoking a policeman into hitting me over the head and I claimed compensation of several hundred thousand pounds. It was the best five minutes' work I ever did. Of course I'm in a wheelchair and a nurse has to clean me up every time I go to the toilet - but so what! I'm laughing all the way to the bank at what these liberals have allowed me to do. I'd recommend that you all do the same.

- John, London, 15/04/2009 15:55
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Bring back the 'Life on Mars' days. We need more like INSPECTOR Gene Hunt. More riot hoses for the great unwashed soap-dodgers please, Jacqui Smith.

- Martin H. Watson, Teddington, 15/04/2009 15:48
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Dear Andy, London

We've never had democracy in this country, besides the police were not to any significant degree, preventing people from protesting. These incidents are isolated, and in each case there are two sides to the conflict. The irritating girl that got slapped, was seeking a reaction, she was not protesting. The protests were about the recession and how investment banks have been a major contributor, but I doubt many protesters have ever opened a book on economics or read a paper by Chomsky or Chossudovsky. She and many others are just agitators and do not deserve to be called 'protesters'.

- Hugh, Birmingham, UK, 15/04/2009 15:47
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She deserved justwhat she was looking for !
Riot police are not in full regalia as they would be in France or other countries, nor hidden behind their shields. I find it quite brave of them actually to operate in such an 'embedded' fashion with the demonstrators. On this side of the Chanel you would have had a solid line of CRS charging on command in clouds of tear gas !

- Gt, Paris, France, 15/04/2009 15:46
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Why is anybody surprised that the Metropolitan Police resorted to violence and thuggery again, have we so easily forgotten the Countryside Alliance March and the sight of blood pouring from the heads of seventy-year olds.
Here's a little story - back in the Miners' Strike (1984/5) I had a friend serving in a more northerly constabulary, he used to say that the weekends were the worst, not because of the miners but because of the Metropolitan Police who were supposedly there to help. Thugs was the nicest thing he said about them. Nothing changes....
Let's have democracy back in Britain and get rid of government sponsored thuggery.

- J Broad, the Hague, Netherlands, 15/04/2009 15:41
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John, London, "Lets get this in proporton..only 100 (deaths) a year in custody"
You are taking the piss aren't you? Dear god I hope so. I am stunned that many people here are happy to give up the right to protest and accept whatever shit they are given, since when have the police been allowed to assaualt the public at will?
"She was swearing at him" so what.
If I gave a PC a backhander like that do you think it would be tolerated?
Jesus people wake up and see what is happening to democracy in the this country.

- Andy, London, 15/04/2009 15:29
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They Beat up the protesters I did not speak out, I was not a protester,

They beat the miners I did not speak out, I was not a miner

They beat up the trade unionists I did not speak out, I was not a Trade Unionist

They beat up the middle & working class, I could not speak out because nobody was left to care.

Does this remind anyone of what happens when nobody speaks out about this kind of violence, yes the police need to be tough but they have rules to obey like the rest of us if we say nothing then god help us all.

- Kim Brookes, London, 15/04/2009 15:29
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TSG = knuckledraggers, trained thugs in uniform, everyone has always known this

- Mark Smith, DC, USA, 15/04/2009 15:02
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If you don't want to get hurt,stay away from demonstrations and events of this ilk.If you go,then you take the consequences of putting yourself deliberately into a situation of high risk to yourself.Whether you are hit by another demonstrator,or something thrown,or a cameraman,or a policeman-you have no business being there,so stay away.You would not dream of going to see 2 sets of opposing football fans like Liverpool and Chelsea go at it,so stay away.If you go,then whether you are an idiotic woman,or an idiotic man,you take the consequences.

- C.Elder, London,UK, 15/04/2009 14:56
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Govenment inspectors will conduct the review, what a complete nonsense, jack boots jaqui controls both the police and the inspectors, she ordered the get tough tactic, in between writing up her expenses and ordering blue movies, and now orders the cover up, white wash at the ready forward march, all hail nu labour !!.

- Mark Devries, Bangkok Thailand, 15/04/2009 14:54
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as usual the rightous are up in arms.lets take the policing away and see how peaceful the demos are!!!

- Phelps Robert, bussiere poitevine 87320 france, 15/04/2009 14:50
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How long until Max Clifford gets involved on the "traumatised" one's part I wonder?

- A.J.M., Kingsbury, 15/04/2009 14:49
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Mike - London

"For example anybody who had their face covered should have been detained until the police were satified as to their identity.
The Met needs to model its tactics on those used by the CRS"

If we followed that rule, the officer who assaulted Tomlinson would be among the first arrested - he was masked - AND HAD CONCEALED HIS IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS - as did all his colleagues in the TSG. They do this so they cannot be identified when they run amok.

It seems to me as if they are already like the CRS. As someone pointed out earlier, the scenes of snarling, shaven-headed Met thugs beating seven bells out of the peaceful middle-aged Countryside Marchers completely unprovoked, was a warning of what was to come - and it is here.

For all you supporters of this naked brutality, I suggest you listen to the interviews of journalists who were nearby, ask yourslves why the claim that the CCTV wasn't working, and speak to the old lady caught up in the 'kettling' who was forced to spend five hours standing in her own urine.

The police stand disgraced in Britain today - patsies for Nu-Labour, and having lost sight of their job description.

- 45govt, Bridgetown, Barbados, 15/04/2009 14:39
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The woman should not be allowed to refer to herself as a 'protester' she was looking for trouble, taunting the policeman. If she had stayed away after he first pushed her away, then would she have been slapped or knocked down? no she would not have been.
Clearly being told, then forcibly pushed away was not sufficient, so the cop used more force, besides, a slap in the chops is hardly a beating.
Her intent is evident, even after she is slapped, she resumes her taunts, and gesticulates in the man's face, she was clearly seeking some action and she got it, was her motive to force the cop to do something that would bring him into disrepute?
She is not a 'protester' she is an 'agitator', I have protested many times and never once have I taunted or disobeyed ploice directives, she is a trouble causer, plain and simple.

- Hugh, Birmingham, UK, 15/04/2009 14:39
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Could one of the people posting here who've made the point she's a WOMAN explain why they are stressing that point? After all these years of trying to gain equality are we now saying that the female of the species is in fact weaker than the male and so it's somehow worse or more painful for them to be slapped about the legs? If so then the natural conclusion to that argument is that she should have been a bit more ladylike and not been hollering at the policeman. And as for the numbers on his shoulders - has it occurred to any of you that maybe any of the rabble on the day could have torn them off?

- Jane Snookes, Bromley, UK, 15/04/2009 14:36
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A nice fat compo claim and she'll never have to work again. She'll have plenty of time to attend future protests and abuse the police - unless she's still too traumatised of course.

- Dave Jackson, London, 15/04/2009 14:30
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The police were outnumbered - of course they had to show more strength than the crowd. Where was this lady's banner? What was she protesting about? All she had was a camera to try and capture the police doing something wrong. These people are just out to bait the police rather than protest peacefully. Perhaps the policeman was a little over the top, though this all just sounds like a big opportunity for a payout as a result of hurt feelings (poor dear, I'm sure she'll never get back on her feet) and a costly investigation at the taxpayers' expense. These people are parasites.

- Da, london, 15/04/2009 14:26
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There are some hilarious spelling errors in this thread ..... I particularly like Ian's "Peaceful descent was under previous governments not against the law" - quite right, Ian, the whole mess is descending rapidly into something awful.

- Paul, London, 15/04/2009 14:23
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- Ted, London UK
How many bricks and bottles did you throw - Ted?

Force will be met with by force, and quite rightly. My mate was at the 'demonstrations' also, except a champagne bottle split his helmet open and he was blowing burnt embers from his nose for ages afterwards because of the fire and flames that engulfed him.

Do you understand - Ted?

Why do the police wear balaclavas? Jesus people in this country are simply out of touch with reality. Liberal-lefties condoning violence and criminal behaviour, disgusting.

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 15/04/2009 14:12
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She got what she deserved!

She constantly ignored the officers request to move back and therefore always presenting herself in his personal space (arms length) and putting his safety at risk. She got slapped after she threw foul language and then sticked in the legs for ignoring his requests. She deserved it and it's utter nonsense to suggest she's now "deeply traumatised and terrified".

I have symapthy for the Ian Tomlinson case as the officer was clearly aggressive and used unneccessary force and violence, but this sad cretin is just looking for some compo from the Met. If particular officer is disciplined then the new commissioner Stephenson should be ashamed for his constant lack of support for his work force.

- Steve, Medway,England, 15/04/2009 14:01
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It is sickening that so many (mainly men) here think it is OK to assault anyone and, in particular, a woman. Does this reflect readers of this website or just those who write in? Similar violence preceded a man's death in case you've forgotten.

- Gc, London, 15/04/2009 14:00
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She is clearly provoking the police officer and she looks aggressive rather than terrified. I was in the City on the day and in my view the tactics employed by the police were not aggressive enought. For exaple anybody who had their face covered should have been detained until the police were satified as to their identity.

The Met needs to model its tatics on those used by the CRS.

- Mike, london, 15/04/2009 13:51
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If this had happened in a normal situation I would say it was over the top however I'm not sure that this response by the officer was over the top considering the situation and I would want to see further video evidence before condemning the officer’s action.

- Mike Melbourne, Bedford England, 15/04/2009 13:45
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And that's traumatised her? Back in my day we got hit round the legs like that by our school teachers and none of us were "traumatised" by it.If you ask me this gobby little cow got everything she deserved.People like her need to learn that every action has a reaction.If I'd been that policeman I'm sure I'd have felt like doing more than giving her a bit of a smack round the legs.

- Tl, Dulwich, 15/04/2009 13:44
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Looks like a scene from 'life on mars'

Sargeant Gene would have been proud of that backhander!!!!!

- C Cusano, Bedford, 15/04/2009 13:41
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If a footballer gets taunted should they attack the crowd? Then why is this supposed to be acceptable from the police? When you dress a violent thug in a uniform does he cease to be a thug? This guy attacks a woman by slapping her in the face and then beating her with a baton. A woman who's half his size. Where's all the training required of a public servant doing this job? Seems she's better trained than he is!
The police should really stop hiring these morons. How many more of these goofy thugs need to be found out before the police sort themselves out?

- Brad Nishi, Vancouver, canada, 15/04/2009 13:37
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No one seems to have mentioned that the lady concerned seemed to be holding a spray can of some kind, possibly dangerous to other people? I can see from watching various videos that the policeman was being surrounded by hostile demonstrators and felt threatened, thus his actions are understandable.

- Jonathan Montmorency, cooden, uk, 15/04/2009 13:34
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I love Susan Lythgoe, Bolton, UK comment obviously never been out of Bolton, never mind the UK. go abroad see how it is done outsiee the UK

You have no idea what was like on that day in the city - In my view the police was not forceful enough - and these G20 people go away easily

- London Eye, UK, 15/04/2009 13:29
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Hang on here, most of these posters are saying it's Ok for the Police to hit people??? What a bunch of sickos. I wonder, the next time one of them gets stopped for speeding say, but weren't actually speeding and when they remonstrate with the officer, they get a smash in the mouth, what will they say then? I will be wetting myself with laughter.
If you want a police state, fine, but don't go whining to anyone when something happens to you.
If people didn't agitate and demonstrate and make a stand, these pro police idiots would still have their kids up chimneys or mdown mines and living in hovels in a fuedal England. Change never comes from above.

- Kerry, Purley, 15/04/2009 13:27
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Well for the comments I see here its seems acceptable in the UK that a man can slap a woman and get away with it. Maybe this is a common practice for this country and for this thug policeman.

- Jorge, London, 15/04/2009 13:25
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It is possible to put a stop to this outrageous behaviour overnight, (I write as a retired senior officer with 35 years experience of policing London). Any officer found to have behaved violently and disproportionately should be promptly suspended, hauled before a disciplinary tribunal and promptly sacked. All pension rights should then be forfeited, and you will be amazed how quickly things will improve. There is nothing like watching a few of you ex-colleagues joining the dole queue to concentate the mind.

- Exmetacpo, London, 15/04/2009 13:24
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Darren, what is your obsession with commands? Police commands have to be lawful. The woman did not commit an offence, she was not being violent, her failure to obey instructions or commands is irrelevant. To complete the baton strike he stepped forward and swung a long baton at arms length, she was far from in his face at this point. The police were in total command of the situation at Bank on 2nd April, there was no crowd violence, riot or even attempts to break the police line, maybe you are confusing the events of the 2nd with the 1st. Or maybe you will just strive to justify the actions of the police, even when they are without justification. A policeman's use of violent force has to be proportionate, in the absence of any violence towards the force or between members of the public, there was no justification for the use of violence whatever.

- Sae Smith, Westward Ho!, 15/04/2009 13:22
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Darren of Stirling, it's not only your spelling that sucks! In a democracy where the right of protest is allowed (except under this Government), the Police who admittedly have a difficult job, have no right to beat people up. They do it time after time and only now is there an uproar.
By your logic, Culloden was a police action and the jacobites were dispersed using appropriate force were they? What the G20 police were doing was merely the Highland clearances then?

- Kerry, Purley, 15/04/2009 13:10
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The woman called him 'scum' after he pushed her forcibly for complaining about an assault that had just occurred.To be fair she did not know his name and it would appear his identity numbers had mysteriously fallen off. She was stood with the press pack who were watching the police, far from defenseless, surround and harass a 100 people protesting against Tomlinson's death. There was clearly no trouble before the police started the aggression. Once pushed she continues to remonstrate telling the officer he was hitting women. The officer behaved like a thug as did his companions who failed to step in. If there was such a threat why does this officer immediately scurry into the background leaving his colleagues to deal with this very small, young woman's supposed 'threatening' behaviour. Watch the video, he goes and hides. Perhaps he was scared she might pour orange juice on him (she was holding a carton in one hand and a camera in the other).It is scary to read all those on this blog who think this kind of violence is acceptable. A brave woman protesting against police violence, I hope she gets a big pay out. To underestimate the trauma and fear that armed and uniformed police create when acting with disregard for people's safety should not be underestimated. Many of the The Met behaved like thugs that day.

- Dave, Leeds, 15/04/2009 13:05
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Darren Moran - you make good points, but the video evidence was clear, and even if it were not, this police thug had deliberately hidden his identification number, as did the officer in the Tomlinson incident. What does this tell you? It tells me that they were planning to act outside the law, and didn't want to be identified. The initial claim that no CCTV cameras were working turns out to have been a lie, and that needs investigating too.

There's a lot of smoke here for there to be no fire. The fact is that the police, and the Met in particular have been getting away with unwarranted violent behaviour for years - I hope this time action will be taken - MEANINGFUL action.

- 45govt, Bridgetown, Barbados, 15/04/2009 13:03
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Aw didums, she is traumatised. I hope she learnt a damn good lesson - dont wind up Policemen in body armour - like the rest of us. But she is probably too thick to learn.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 15/04/2009 13:03
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I would love to blame the Government for this, but I dont see any grounds for it - this time.
It was just a cocky little madam baiting the Police and receiving the consequences. No sympathy at all for this woman, the police were maintaining order.

Now lets hear it from the bleeding heart liberals. Careful what you wish for, you just might get it - Anarchy.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 15/04/2009 13:00
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She got exactly what she deserved.

- Cdw, Boston, 15/04/2009 12:58
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She does so NOT look terrified in that video, as the matter of fact, it seems to me like she's doing everything she can to provoke a response. Sorry, I'm with the cop on this one ( but he should have been wearing all the tags and such)

- Juma, london, uk, 15/04/2009 12:56
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This footage just goes to shows the find of foul behaviour our police have to put up with. If I ever get the chance, I would gladly smack her one.

- Greg, Wigan England, 15/04/2009 12:53
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er hang on a minute, your sister was at the front of the confrontation against police, is she that simple to think that she wouldnt be a potential target?

I find the whole thing a joke, the police have a very hard time doing their job and silly girls like her just exacerbate the problem.

I support the police and officer in question, your sister needs to grow up.

- Anna, london, 15/04/2009 12:50
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Darren Moran- Your spelling does suck, but the thrust of your argument is quite correct!
To all of those complaining about this relativiely low level use of force by Police: Where were you and your complaints when this same police force were battering the Countryside Alliance demonstrators in what WAS a sustained and unprovoked attack?
Or is "Police brutality" only a problem when you agree with the politics of the protestors?

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 15/04/2009 12:41
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It sickens me that decent, hardworking police officers get put through the mill and possibly have their careers damaged because of scum like this. The protest wasn't a protest against the police, the police were just there as they always are: to do a job, to safeguard one and all. Why should they put up with foul mouthed hags like that shouting obscenities at them? She got what she deserved. I bet the reason she didn't come forward before was it took the little madam that long to figure out there might be a financial gain if she did so.

- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 15/04/2009 12:40
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Big wow. I've seen the police act a hundred times worse than this at football matches to people minding their own business a lot more than this woman was yet no one seems to care about that.

- Lb, London, 15/04/2009 12:40
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That's discusting they shouldnt be aloud to do such abuse
it was a girl for goodness sake that cop should be ashamed of himself

- Scott, swindon england, 15/04/2009 12:35
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Ian of Reading, shame you did not make it back earlier from your planet to actually see and be in amongst the rioters. There were various in attendance that looked upon the event as an opportunity to cause damage and hurt a Police Officer, simple as that. As the sun shone as well, it was a good day out for them. They pushed the innocents towards the police and let them take the flak. I saw it, as did others, but sadly the rioters video of the events, where the latest footage comes from, only shows what they want it to.

- Steve, London, 15/04/2009 12:33
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I see the woman is seemingly "deeply traumatised and terrified", since the incident. Poor luv, I guess a nice six figure handout as compensation might just ease the strain and help her get on with life.

- Steve, London, 15/04/2009 12:28
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It is absolutely correct that the officer (any officer) should have to justify their actions and, in this instance, it appears there should be no problem doing so;

1. It is a severe and developing public order situation.
2. The officer is giving clear verbal commands to move back and keep distance.
3. The officer strikes a person ignoring this instruction who is moving directly towards him from a side on position (the peripheral vision slap).
4. The officer then continues in his defensive moves; continues to give verbal instruction to "get back' whilst employing a defensive stance as he himself moves back.
5. The officer reaches a point where he can move back no further and the person 'slapped' continues to be aggressive and force herself on his position.
6. Then, and only then, with no other place to go, does the officer remove his baton from its holder and deliver one well aimed strike to an area of the body where minimum injury might be expected to be caused.

Only questions I can see in all this are - 'Why has he been suspended?' What more could he have done? What do people suggest he should have done? What would they do in similar circumstances?

- Gordon, London, 15/04/2009 12:27
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In a free democracy the police are there to calm and reassure, while at the same time allowing legitimate protest (which this was) and free speech to take place.

As a political force to impose the will of government, the actions of the police are showing their desire to prop –up an illegitimate regime. The orders the police are receiving are wrong and misplaced and deliberately used to inflame.

- Ian, Reading, England, 15/04/2009 12:26
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There was no riot, just a legal organised protest. Our authoritarian government object to it and used the police to impose their (the governments) will.

Once this government politicised the police, they exposed the police into carrying out actions that were against the will of the people.

The police under the old rules operated with the will and cooperation of the people. As an instrument of government this has all changed.

Peaceful descent was under previous governments not against the law.

- Ian, Reading, England, 15/04/2009 12:18
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did anyone hear the "victim" was shouting at the officer in question, shouting "YOUR SCUM", others where shouting worse things, including "MURDERERS".

THE OFFICER: clearly heard telling the woman to move back, putting his hand on her shoulder and pushing back with very mild force

THE WOMAN: ignores this, moves foward shouting, i'm a woman your pushing a woman,? or something like that


THE OFFICER: is clearly heard warning the woman to stay back, again.

THE WOMAN: approaches the officer from, his flank shouting your scum,

THE OFFICER: gives her a swift back hander, (maybe he didn't quite see her or it was intended, eighter way justified.

THE OFFICER: then clearly takes 3 or 4 steps back himself, maybe realising his mistake or moving away to placate the crowd of angry protestors.

THE WOMAN: follows him after the warnings, and breif physical contact, quite riled up by now.

THE OFFICER: then give her a warning hit with his baton on the, most robust part of the body, the thigh. reinforcing the idea to stay back.

I would say that the officers actions are justified, to the extent that they where outnumbered, and from the looks of the video flanked on at least 3 sides.

What would you expect the police to do with a protestor who is continually ignoring the officers commands??

he told her to stat back 2 or 3 times, the woman continued to ignore him?? what was she expecting to happen. It's called maintaining order.

my spelling sucks, sorry

- Darren Moran, stirling, scotland, 15/04/2009 12:11
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The Police are being shown for what they are - thugs. News to some I guess

- Gary, ealing, 15/04/2009 12:03
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The lesson for the next demo is to bring as many ladies and babies as possible. The Tamils seem to know this trick.

- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England, 15/04/2009 11:59
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Of course she provoked it. She may even have wanted to be hit so she could claim compo later. With the sister backing her up it's obviously the disgraceful way they've been brought up. Revolting people!

- M Farbiash, Highgate, 15/04/2009 11:56
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'Ms Thompson said her sister... hopes to take the case against the officer as far as possible'.

Should be a nice drink in it for you love. You should get legal aid as well. That nice Mr Mike Mansfield QC likes legally aided anti-police cases, he'll probably do it for you!

- Chris, Brighton, England, 15/04/2009 11:53
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Anyone screaming into your face like that should get a slap. The woman is clearly deranged and needed a short sharp shock. As for being traumatised and frightened welcome to the real world. The only crime here will be if the officer loses his job.

- Phil Johnson, Fareham Hants, 15/04/2009 11:49
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Excellent question Mark, South-East London, why are members of the police force allowed to remove or conceal the identifying numbers on their uniforms?

- Manny Goldstein, London, UK, 15/04/2009 11:48
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No doubt she'll end up with a fat cheque for her poor hurt feelings (because swearing at and provoking a police officer in the course of his duty is entirly commendable these days), while he'll go on the permanent sick because of the trauma of having a hatchet faced harridan screaming at him. Net result ...... the tax payer shells out yet again.

- Paul, London, 15/04/2009 11:44
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I was shocked and dismayed as I watched this video. I cannot help but compare it with the demonstration by the Tamils - not a yellow jacket, nor a helmet, nor a policedog. No riot shields and all batons pocketed....just a few fingers wagged, and people addressed by the police in a civil manner. Why the difference, I wonder? It seems to me the police have a lot of explaining to do.

- Susan Lythgoe, Bolton, UK, 15/04/2009 11:42
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The girl was obviously trying to be provocative. She got what she deserved.

- Ying-Hui, london, 15/04/2009 11:33
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Do I smell money here?

- Jenny, san francisco ca ( ex-londoner), 15/04/2009 11:30
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It's interesting to hear the woman say 'I'm a woman', as if it's OK to hit men but not women. The woman is obviously not a feminist 'sister'!

- Andrew Denny, Norwich, 15/04/2009 11:25
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You have not seen anything yet!

Just wait for the Revolution.

- Reuben Camara, Morecambe UK, 15/04/2009 11:15
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The sooner we face the fact that the police are generally above the law, the better. The police are firstly there to take care of their own, and if they feel like it, take care of the members of the public they are actually employed to protect in the first place. It is a wonderful place for thugs to practice their art with minimum prospect of being brought to book - "sorry guv the public has the knack of walking into the path of my truncheon/kick/punch, what could I have possibly done" is usually a good enough reason for dropping the case, despite the presence of clear evidence form the disreputable members of the community they police.

- V, London, 15/04/2009 11:10
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The force used by the officer was disproportionate and unnecessary ... but 'deeply traunatised and terrified'? Come off it, sounds like bumping up a potential compensation claim to me.

- John, London, 15/04/2009 11:06
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John, London thinks "you should expect to be slapped around a bit by the authorities when you question what they are doing"??

Well John you probably deserve everything you get. And are quite happy to watch a large man in uniform slap a small woman? You obviously assume she deserved it because he is "authority". Thankfully, there are some who would stand up and say no to cowards who hide their badges because they don't want to be held responsible.

- Gc, London, 15/04/2009 10:58
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OK folks sit back and watch her get tens of thousands in compensation for her hurt feelings. Another fine example of this country going to the dogs....

- Dc, Ealing, London, 15/04/2009 10:54
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The 'assault' on this woman was unnecessary and unprovoked. To the police apologisers posting here, I'd like to pose the question, do we really want a police force with a do as I say not as I do mentality?

In any other circumstances what this officer did would be classed as common assault at the very least, why are we willing to condone this kind of behaviour simply because it's being committed by a police officer?

This officer should lose his job at the very least, and in my opinion ought also to face prosecution for assault.

- Serai, Preston, 15/04/2009 10:54
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Sorry but I have been going to football matches since the mid 70s and have seen, on countless occasions, innocent people being being pushed, hit and having horses rode into them by the police. By the tone of most posters on this board they deserved it. Well they didn't; neither did this girl nor Tomlinson.

I was brought up where a clump round the head was seen as an acceptable form of punishment; even it came from a copper but these guys are just thugs and cowards who hide behind their uniform.

- Mark, South-East London, 15/04/2009 10:53
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There is a stark contrast between the incident involving this woman and that involving Mr Thomlinson. He was not acting aggressively, had his back to the officer that struck him and was walking away from him. He did not present a threat.
The unnamed woman was presenting a threat, in two ways. Firstly, she is clearly presenting aggression to the officer. I don't know what she was saying, but she may have been (and probably was) threatening violence. Secondly, her behaviour was likely to incite others to behave similarly. This cannot be allowed to happen in this kind of situation, as it could quickly lead to Police being overrun by a rioting mob. I believe that the officer has done nothing wrong in this instance, his options were severely limited.
As for making an arrest; this ties up officers and they appear to have already been fairly thin on the ground making arrest impractical. It would have left the remaining officers in a worsening situation with diminishing numbers.
If this woman is now feeling traumatised by her experience she has only herself to blame. Perhaps now she will think twice before participating in any future public disorder.

- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster, 15/04/2009 10:51
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It was a totally disproportionate use of force by an officer who reacted not through professional training but through panic.

What happens in other nations is moot. What happens HERE is what counts and what he did was unlawful and counts as assault.

After being clipped in the face she rightly wanted to complain to the man responsible - even if it was an accident - and was assaulted.

If the officer had his number visible then he could have been identified later. As he had acted like a coward and covered it up what other option did she have than to complain there and then?

- Butch, London, UK, 15/04/2009 10:39
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I was there at the protests, and witnessed many instances of overly aggressive police behaviour. I was also extremely disappointed at the blanket pro-police/anti-protestor bias that was apparent throughout most of the media until the footage of Ian Tomlinson was released.
My worries regarding the aggressive stance of the police remain, and the fact that their policing strategy seemed to be based on ramping up levels of tension and violence rather than diffusing it are highlighted once again in this video.
Having said that, this is a different situation-the woman in my opinion should have left it alone. But did she deserve to be hit twice? I'm still not sure.
The situation was tense and in a confined and stressed space as someone has mentioned.
The problem is that whether by accident or design, it was the police that were responsible for this state of affairs. So acting in a manner that is commensurate to the mood and tactical situation of their own making muddies the water just a bit doesn't it?

- Ted, London UK, 15/04/2009 10:30
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With the benefit of 20:20 hindsight, it appears that the police were heavy handed in their handling of Ian Tomlinson and a number of G20 protesters. But in judging what happened, you have to remember what information was available to those involved in controlling the riots. At the time, the police were faced with potential violence from a group of people who had made their intentions very clear before the event. It is extremely regrettable that someone died as a result but the risk of innocent people getting hurt was inevitable and could not have been eliminated. The lesson for any would-be participants in protests involving violent anarchists is clear - if you take part, knowing that there will be groups, however small, looking for trouble, you deserve no sympathy if you get hurt.

- Simon, london, 15/04/2009 10:17
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If I remember rightly if she had been given a section 5 public order warning she could have been arrested for swearing.

So a quick baton to the legs seems a let off to me.

She is clearly being aggressive to an officer in a confined space, she (by her actions) is not attracting as a lady should.

- Not Exactly A Looney Lefty!, The real world, 15/04/2009 10:17
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Let's get this into proportion. There are lots of countries where the police are regularly killing people so British people should be grateful to their police. They're showing the rest of the world the way forward - to a world where, although you won't get killed (except in exceptional cases - for goodness sake, it's only around 100 a year, though it's hard to know exactly since, though it was last updated in February 2008, the last year for which the Home Office website provides statistics is 2004), you should expect to be slapped around a bit by the authorities when you question what they are doing. I for one am grateful for the opportunities that affords me to be reminded of my place in the great scheme of things.

- John, London, 15/04/2009 10:14
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".. deeply traumatised and terrified .."??

Doesn't appear to be terrified at the time. Repeatedly shouting vile abuse at the police, continually being warned and told to back of yet she persists in hurling abuse and using filthy language.

She deserved everything she got, stupid little girl. Thought she could attack the police and get away with it because our police are the best in the world. Utter, utter cowardice.

- Frank, Home Counties, England., 15/04/2009 10:12
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She's a silly girl. If she didnt want to risk a physical confrontation she shouldn't havc been in the front row of a bunch of hoodlums shouting abuse and obscenities and goading a police officer trying to do his job. She should count herself lucky she wasnt protesting in any other Western European country where the would have had tear gas and water cannon in her face to shake her out of her fantasy world of 'uprising and revolution'

- Dc, London, 15/04/2009 10:03
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Well the silly woman did feel the need to repeatedly go back. Looks like she's provoking the officer.

- Jk, London, 15/04/2009 10:01
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If you are going to riot and demonstrate aggressively, be prepared for law and order to react. Anywhere else in the world there would have been riot hoses and baton charges.

- Martin H. Watson, Teddington, 15/04/2009 09:48
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I think the people concerned need to grow up a bit, there were a lot of people at that event deliberately there to cause trouble. It appears that the officer involved lashed out under extreme pressure rather than a deliberate attack on her. Why did she continue to goad him and swear at him? No-one should have to be subjected to that abuse. The lady involved wasn't traumatised when she was shouting abuse at the officers was she.

If you can dish it out, you should be able to take it!

- Kate, West Yorkshire, 15/04/2009 09:46
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So he is shouting at her to go away (lip read), she doesnt. He hits her in the face.
Then she comes back for more (is she thick?)and he wacks her in the leg with a baton.
I am with the Police on this one. The girl is a fool.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 15/04/2009 09:44
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This is getting ridiculous now - the video hardly shows a "slap" as is claimed, it was a push to move her away. In a confined and stressed space, and in an environment where there is a hostile crowd, people will get hit, including with batons where necessary, to move people back. What are the critics suggesting here? No police tactics being permitted to deal with violence at protests?

- Steve S, London, 15/04/2009 09:36
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It seems that this officer was able to go out on the street with his serial number deliberately obscured. Why is this?

- Mark, South-East London, 15/04/2009 09:23
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the officer in question was a bit heavy handed, but lets get this into context, a small minority of people that day were hell bent on causing trouble, goading, swearing, clashing at officers. His intial reaction was to swat the lady away, she then came back again, so he did it again. I'd hardly consider that a "slap" as its been reported. However i'm not sure why he needed to baton her on the legs, that did seem over the top.

This is nowhere the same as the other guy who was walking away from the police who was double handed pushed in the back, this lady repeadetly walked towards the officer. People have to realise that in nearly every other eurpean country you would have got more police assaulting people, i've witnessed people having the proverbial kicked out of them by foreign police for very little. The criticism of the police force is unjustified in some areas. Althought not in the case of Ian Tomlinson where this just looked plain out of order

- Mpl, UK, 15/04/2009 09:23
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