Morning:
9°c
G20 brutality: police facing new claims
Kiran Randhawa, Terry Kirby and Danny Brierley16.04.09
THE Metropolitan Police was today hit with fresh allegations of brutality at the London G20 protests.
A series of protesters who claim they were attacked by officers during peaceful demonstrations are taking their cases to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The allegations come in the wake of footage showing a policeman assaulting a female activist. An officer from the Territorial Support Group was suspended over the attack.
Another officer from the unit has been suspended for an assault on Ian Tomlinson, who died from a heart attack minutes after being hit with a baton.
Islington councillor Greg Foxsmith is among the complainants, alleging he was struck in the chest and thrown to the ground during the protests in the City on 1 April.
The 47-year-old said he was attacked by a balaclava-clad officer after he witnessed him attacking an elderly man with a baton.
The Lib Dem councillor, who went to the demonstration as a civil liberties lawyer, has written to Met commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson.
Mr Foxsmith said: "I got to the cordon at Cheapside at about 2.20pm. There were about 50 demonstrators.
"There was a man in conversation with the police. Then I saw an officer strike him with a baton. This man was in his late sixties.
"I took a photo of the officer but he had a balaclava over his face and a helmet on. I went to speak to the officer and I asked him for his shoulder number. He struck me in the chest and I fell."
Mr Foxsmith added: "It was poor policing. Instead of managing the crowd, they were just an intimidating presence."
Another protester, Maya Oppenheim, said she was left traumatised after being attacked by a riot policeman.
The 17-year-old A-level student was part of the Climate Camp protest on Bishopsgate when she was allegedly hit with a baton and kicked while sitting. She is taking her case to the IPCC.
Miss Oppenheim, who lives with her parents in Hackney, and attends Camden School for Girls, said: "I was part of the peaceful protest from about midday and as we were heading towards midnight officers in riot gear began to get very aggressive. They charged towards us all of a sudden, even though we were all sitting down at that point.
"I was whacked on the head with a baton and an officer kicked me in the shins. It was ferocious. It's been two weeks and I still have the cuts and bruising. It was completely out of the blue and absolutely horrific. I was very shaken. We were all yelling, 'This is not a riot' but that didn't stop them. They basically bulldozed us out of the area.
"The next day, my head hurt from the baton and my shins were throbbing. Considering the police's brutal and heavy-handed techniques, I am amazed that just one person died. There could have been many more. I hope all the complaints the IPCC have received help to crack down on police brutality. They were out of control."
Student Tom Hibbins, who claims he was repeatedly struck over the head with a police baton after becoming trapped at the front of a throng of demonstrators outside the Bank of England, has already complained to the IPCC. The 21-year-old, from Brockley, said: "I was just standing there when I was hit over the head three times. I was also kneed in my groin."
The allegations come as a retired nurse told how she has suffered a year of pain after being hit by a member of the TSG. Maureen Stephenson, 60, from Leyton, was protesting at the anti-war rally in Whitehall on 14 June last year.
The pensioner, a nurse for more than 40 years, said she was pushed to the ground by a female officer after trying to help a fellow demonstrator.
''My shoulder, hip and neck were in pain. I've had treatment in hospital and with my doctor. I've had to have physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and pain killing injections ever since," she said.
Her complaint was eventually dismissed by the IPCC because of a lack of evidence.
She is still considering whether to bring a civil action for damages.
The TSG was created in 1987 to replace the Special Patrol Group and is designed as a permanent force to deal with public order situations.
The IPCC said it has received more than 145 complaints relating to G20. Around 70 are about the use of force by police during the protests.
A Met spokesman said: "Anybody who feels they have a complaint should take their case to their local police station or take their case straight to the IPCC."
Reader views (26)
Under no circumstances must the proposed law banning the photographing of police be allowed to pass!
- Gwaddilove, London..England
I HAVE MADE COMMENTS BEFORE..THE POLICE SHOULD STAY AT HOME DURING A DEMONSTRATION.NO COMPLAINTS THEN, AS FOR THE IDIOT WHO SAYS THE POLICE CANT READ,SPELL IN FRANCE GET IN.THE REAL WORLD..THEY CAN AND MOST OFFICERS IN THE POLICE THESE DAYS HAVE GOOD EXAM RESULTS..PLEASE REMEMBER QUALIFICATIONS DOES NOT MEAN INTELLIGENCE.lLET THE ARMY DEAL NEXT TIME..OR WILL THEY GET IT WRONG..TRY JOINING THE POLICE AND THEN YOU CAN SORT THE SYSTEM RIGHT
- Ken, paris, france
They used to say in Glasgow of the police , 'You wouldn't want to pee on them if they were on fire.' Be warned ; as they sow so shall they reap.Here in France there are five police forces , if one force goes sick the others are only too willing to do the job.'Community Support' might just be the intended response to the going sick , which the Met did post Scarman.They are paid more than probationary doctors and teachers yet many can't even spell.
- Chris M, morbihan,france
The best thing the members of the TSG's can do now, is all go sick for the day next time there is a major public demo and leave the ordinary members of the public to deal with the consequences . . . maybe then they will get a little understanding of the pressure and difficulties they face when dealing with reprobates and scum.
A number of those I know are certainly of this frame of mind.
- Eoin Mcgreeghan, Derry, NI
Nice to see the right-wing happily criticising people for exercising their human right to assemble freely and their democratic right to protest. It's no wonder the Human Rights Act is under so much attack with people who don't understand what freedom and rights are. Police violence against peaceful protests (and the vast majority of protesters at the Bank were peaceful, I was actually there, unlike the armchair commentators) is illegal. Battering people with sticks, kicking them when they're sitting on the ground, knocking people to the ground in rugby-style attacks - that is not "minimal force", that is police brutality, plain and simple. To quote Spanish republicans of the 1930s - "If you tolerate this, your children will be next".
- Donnacha Delong, London
A slightly built woman remonstrates with a large policeman and gets slapped across the face with a leather gauntlet followed by a thwack from a police baton across the legs? This is minimal violence by the police is it? What need was there for any violence at all? Oh I forgot, she answered him back. So that's OK then, she had it coming. The police really don't get it do they? (Also I see the habit of the TSG of leaving off their numbers at demos to conceal their identity dates back at least to the Countryside Alliance march.) I assume the writer of the email supporting this action is another policeman. Can't you see if the police lose the trust and support of Londoners, they are just making their own job that much harder. Sir Paul Stephenson has a monumental task ahead of him in making the Met police accountable to Londoners.
- H Jackson, London England
It's surprising what the whiff of compensation brings out isn't it? I'm surprised Gareth Pierce and her cohorts haven't had to get involved. Max Clifford get real and get back to your celeb b-listers.
- Julie, Slough UK
Is it possible that many of the "officers" on duty are not really policemen at all but hired thugs to help control demonstrations. The balaclavas and the lack of any identifying number rather suggests that something is not quite right. Surely it is a requirement for any uniformed person to display their serial number. Not to do so suggests that either you have something to hide and don't want to identified or just maybe you don't belong to the organisation anyway! As it is the actions of the police was nothing more than plain thuggery.
On the other hand where police are physically attacked then I believe they should have the right to react with considerable force, but in the instances observed that was not the case.
- Don Bennett, Glasgow
She was warned, more than once, she did not listen, end of. So police cannot use minimal force, nor can teachers & society wonders why everyone disregards authority. Because they know they can get away with it. Discipline has gone to pot, and society now reflects that.
- Dom, London
Thank you Andy and Gazza, the debate has all been too one sided so far but great for the newspapers and journalists and of course, a great diversion for the government. Does anyone really believe that the police were going to just sit there and offer cups of tea and sympathy?!
- Mikkiduk, London
I hope that next time the police have to deal with this sort they bring out the Tazers and the water cannon. They may as well do as they couldn't have been much more restrained than they were and yet they're getting all this flak.
- M Farbiash, Highgate
What I don't understand is this.... that lady was told to move away so why didn't she? why did she keep going up to the police officer!!!! if she was realy hurt and upset why did she not come forward straight away? and why hire PR Guru. Also lets not forget about officers that were hurt. What would have been said if the police officer that was hit over the head with the metal pole had been seriously hurt!!!
- Ana, london
The Met is clearly trying to silence dissent
It is a tool of the government, a modern-day SturmAbteilungM
Ernst Roehm would be proud
- Alan, Islington
If I were a policeman I would be looking for a career change. They don't get paid enough to have to deal with this rubbish. All leave the force and then lets see who these so called peace protestors go running to when someone nicks their 2 litre bottle of scrumpy jack. They are a waste of everyones time and money.
- Andy, London
Teachers have been emascualated by their inability to do anything but politely request a student to behave now we are trying to do the same to the police. What are they supposed to do if they tell someone to move and they don't? Arrest everyone or give a discreet cuff to encourage them to obey?. The brutality has not looked particularly brutal compared to european riot control. Afterall when you are a victim of crime who would you prefer to se walking down the stret - a policeman or a civil rights lawyer? Lets support the police and not undermine yet another part of our society.
- Gazza, London,England
Recently, the government changed the law to make it potentially a criminal offence to take a picture of a policeman. The claim is that this law will only be applied in cases where such pictures might b2 "of use" to a terrorist, but then how many times have anti-terror laws already been used where there is not even any suggestion of terrorism?
If we were afraid to take pictures of policemen, none of these cases of police heavy-handedness would have seen the light of day. We need the police to be accountable, and if there is a law saying we are not allowed to take pictures of them, then we cannot guarantee they will not abuse their powers.
- Tim, London
Mass hysteria whipped up by Max Clifford and Liberty. Obey the law next time.
- Martin H. Watson, Teddington
The officer was clearly in a panic, despite the fact he was surrounded by other officers.
That is unprofessional and unacceptable for someone in his role and he should be removed from it to less stressful duties as he clearly can't handle the pressure. They do the same with armed police if their temper does not match the high standards demanded.
Better policing standards that come out of an organised campaign against needless official thuggery is a good thing and good for democracy
- Butch, London, UK
Maybe the Police should publish film from their side of the protesters
- Shallotman, Basildon
Get Max Clifford for max publicity and compensation
- London Eye, UK
The fact remains that this demo was policed as if it was a riot.
Two entirely different things.
for weeks ahead all the media reports were of impending riot/rioters. No such thing was planned, but the police did their level best to incite a riot.
- Kedge, marlboro wilts
I am so disappointed by the vitrolic comments on this story which seem baseless and quite hateful. Firstly in response to this blame laying: the IPCC will sort the wheat from the chaff; thank goodnesss for them.
I did not protest but work near parliament square. I was struck by the underwhelming turnout - the police presence was frankly a waste of resouce and should have been managed by the met in relation to this. I imagine many peoplestayed away because of the media whip up and potential threat of a small fraction of rioters. But I did see two pensioners weearing protest t-shirts 0- Gordo Brown you ruinned my pension was one.
It is a sad day in thiscountry when normal people - the everyday man - can not stand up for what they believe in. And worse are attacked by people who are entrusted and employed to care for socitey
- Julia, london
These complaints are clearly orchestrated. The whole campaign will have an effect on genuine protest, not violent mindless protest and some people, especially many of a liberal bent can't seem to see the damage they are inflicting on genuine democracy. As for this woman getting a slap and a whack, she didn't comply to verbal requests to stay away, the officer was clearly concerned for his own safety and she achieved what she wanted to - the fact that she is female in no way excuses her from being treated like the yob she actually was and is. That she has employed Max Clifford makes a supreme mockery out of 'quest for justice', she deserved everything she got.
- Ranter, Maidstone, uk
Doubt anything will be done. Two words spring to mind... cover up!
- Aria, South London
Jesus these people are unbelievable. They went to the demonstrations knowing there would be violence or in fact causing violence, then when it happens they are all surprised.
Roll on the claims wagon, easy money for social whores.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
It's taken them a long time to realise they have been assaulted , maybe it's the mention of Max Clifford's name that has revitalised their memories.
- Dave Mcc, France
