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Watchdog is given G20 brutality dossier from 400 witnesses
Kiran Randhawa, Aline Nassif and Jack Lefley20.04.09
THE METROPOLITAN police today faced fresh accusations of brutality at the G20 protests.
Lawyers representing Climate Camp are to hand over a dossier alleging excessive force by riot officers at the demonstrations to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
Among the complaints is one from a woman who claims police medics refused to let her out of the cordon to seek medical treatment after she collapsed.
Up to 400 witness statements complaining of police brutality were drawn up by law firm Bindmans on behalf of the organisers of the Climate Camp demonstration.
Louise Broadbent, 27, who collapsed after suffering an asthma attack during the "kettling" incidents, said she was told by officers that "they were under orders not to let anyone out under any circumstances, even for medical reasons".
She was today undergoing medical treatment for a suspected broken wrist suffered during alleged beatings at the Bishopsgate Climate Camp.
The environmental consultant from Clapham said she was attacked in two separate police charges at 7.30pm, when she was dragged out of the cordon and punched in the face, and then at 9.30pm.
Describing the second alleged assault, she said: "We were just sitting there when police lunged at us. They pulled me away and I saw several officers beating up my boyfriend. He got punched in the face and they were hitting him with their shields side-on."
Miss Broadbent claims she was then dragged outside the cordon by officers who threatened to break her wrists.
"They dragged me outside the cordon, one on each side in a wrist lock laughing and saying 'what shall we do with her now', and hurled me face-first back through the police cordon. As they did this my hands were behind my back - they held me up and literally threw me through the air."
Kate Surridge claims she was the victim of an unprovoked attack by a sergeant less than 24 hours before he smacked Nicky Fisher, 35, across the face and legs.
The 24-year-old, said: "One minute I was standing up and the next I was on the floor. I had been pushed to the ground by an officer - I had my back to him and it was totally unprovoked. He didn't try to justify it all - initially I was just confused."
Miss Surridge, a student at UCL, added: "A group of people shouted at him 'You can't do that to a woman' but he just walked off."
Her account comes as a video shows an officer allegedly pointing a 50,000-volt Taser at a group in a squat near Liverpool Street station. The protesters are already on the floor and do not appear to be posing a threat.
Lily Vassiliadis, 27, from Edinburgh, said she was sitting at Bishopsgate Climate Camp when officers charged at her.
She said: "In a few seconds I was attacked by one policeman who hit me with the baton on my hands and arms, which I raised up to protect my head.
"He was holding my head with my hands another policeman who was behind me grabbed me from my hair and started dragging me on the pavement.
"He hit me with his baton around four to five times on my back and then reversed my body to face up and hit my on my abdomen and appendix area."
Part of the Climate Camp dossier includes video footage that appears to show 24-year-old Alex Kinnane, an IT technician from London, being punched on the left temple by a riot squad officer.
The IPCC is investigating three G20 incidents: Ian Tomlinson, Nicola Fisher and a 23-year-old man who says he was assaulted at a cordon near Cornhill. A spokesman said he would not comment on police tactics.
Reader views (14)
The G20 mob fiasco did not bother me. I stayed at home where I belonged.
Rent-a-mob have largely themselves to blame if they got hurt.
- Michael, Kensington, UK
400 ultra left loonies hell bent on attacking the police and ranning riot, not like these statements are unbias?
- Nick Nack Paddy Mac, London UK
Personally I'm of the strong belief that protest is a fundamental right of any democratic society. You're absolutely right that other countries may clamp down more on demonstrators than in the UK - but that has naff all to do with our rights and the democratic principles within OUR country.
I'm amazed that people are still bandying around this myth that the demonstration was full of yobs - it wasn't - as reflected by the bulk of media coverage, the vast majority of protesters were peaceful.
But you know what? Regardless of the actions of a minority of people, that does not give the police carte blanche to assault people. The police only have the right to use 'appropriate' force. Is charging people who are sitting down, or hitting a woman who has been verbally abusing them an 'appropriate' force? If people are breaking the law, they should be arrested, not beaten.
There is no excuse to verbally abuse our police - but this is absolutely not an excuse for them to respond with violence. They are highly trained professionals and should know better.
- Mark Lee, Vauxhall
Maybe next time the army should be in charge of policing these protests. Protesters take up a huge amount of resources and money not just from the met but also from other forces.
Do those videos contain sound so we could hear what these protesters were shouting?
- Martin Van, London
One would have thought that the erosion of freedoms and civil liberties under this government may be of a concern to those on the right - I assume you would all be happy to live in a giant police state?
- Tom, The City
So the Liberal-Lefties want anarchy on the streets of London then? And the comp-gravy train roles on. Who the hell would want to be a copper?
This is symptomatic of our society under these pathetic socialists. All the political emphasis and benefits have been placed on minority groups, radicals, criminals 'uman Rights rubbish. Completely alienating right minded people who just want a decent safe society.
People talk a lot about respect, well instead of demanding respect with threats of violence, how about showing some first. Feckless free loading Lefties, too busy moaning about society to a get a job and contribute to it.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
Are you lot below serious? Let's hope you never have the need to protest about unjust laws or wars that affect your cosy lifes eh.
- Ian, London
Keith - Move to China pronto, I know you'll love it, cracking heads is a national past time. I've never met you, but since you can talk for london why don't we all just listen to you and let you sort it all out...
C Roberts... Humm? I'll take that bet, what odds will you give me?
Dave... People have a right to peacefully protest, but if you would like to remove that right, why not go to china for a taster with Keith.. (He's talks for london, don't you know)
- Mark, St Albans
Just as what was expected its turning in to a money generating exercise lots of people are jumping on the bandwagon to try and make a quick buck. I wonder how many of the people who make the complaints are unemployed!
- John, london
I wonder how many came forward to Police to report violent behaviour, break ins and other related offences by their own hordes!
- Rosie, watford
Regret to say that it seems once again that the Met. Police are in a 'lose/lose' position over the G20 'protests'. In my view, and am certain the it's the views of the 'silent' majority of Londoners, the protesters are as much to blame - if not more so - for the problems that arose. There are many other ways to register a protest but one of them is certainly not the type of rowdy, noisy and very confrontational behaviour shown by a few thousand 'yobs'.
Using the summit to make rather ill advised and somewhat futile protests will always result in a number of 'heads' being cracked.
Might add the police today have much more important work to do than dealing with these protesters. Furthermore, know that in many other countries such behaviour by protesters would have been dealt with in a much harsher manner. So perhaps spraying with dyed liquid from water cannon and tear gas after they are told to disperse coupled to long stays in jail both before and after trial would make the protesters think twice about confronting
the authorities.
To much is today allowed in the name of 'political correctness' and 'human rights' - which only benefits the legal profession and not about the maintenance of good public order and respect for the law.
No, I regret to say the protesters brought their problems upon themselves and hopefully will think twice next time they feel the need to take to the streets of London.
- Keith Gorman, London, W3 - UK
Bishopsgate is one of the main North South Bus Routes. What right do Climate Change Protestors have to massivelt disrupt Public Transport?
- Dave, London England
Is there any way of knowing how many of the 400 have been in touch with each other in the past few weeks? Maybe someone should check their emails to see if this is all some evil plan they've cooked up between them. I'm betting it is.
- C Roberts, London
400 "witnesses"? I wonder how many of them were independent -- i.e. NOT involved in the disturbance.
- A.B., London, UK.
