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Heckling as mayor backs G20 police
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London mayor Boris Johnson has been heckled as he defended the actions of the "overwhelming majority" of police officers during G20 demonstrations.
Protesters jeered and one shouted "rubbish" as Mr Johnson told a public meeting that officers working across the capital every day and during the protests earlier this month do a "fantastic job".
Just hours later the police watchdog announced a fourth investigation into allegations against police stemming from the G20 protests.
A 22-year-old woman involved in the demonstrations on April 1 has made an accusation of assault, said the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The number of complaints received by the IPCC relating to the G20 protests is now 256, including 121 from people who claim they either witnessed or suffered police violence, 75 about police tactics and 60 from people who object to what they saw on TV.
Earlier, members of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), the force's board of governors, faced a small demonstration as they arrived at City Hall. A large banner reading "Remember Ian Tomlinson" was unfurled outside by members of the newly-formed United Campaign Against Police Violence.
Mr Johnson said: "Everybody in London and in the country has of course been horrified by some of the images of what happened, in particular to Ian Tomlinson. His family need answers, and they need answers urgently, and it is right that there should be a series of Independent Police Complaints Commission inquiries into what happened.
"I think Sir Paul (Stephenson) has done absolutely the right thing in calling in Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary to review tactics. But I hope members will agree that it is clear that the overwhelming majority of police officers in London today and indeed at the G20 are doing a fantastic job."
Acting Deputy Commissioner Tim Godwin said the force fully supported the investigation into Mr Tomlinson's death after he was apparently pushed to the ground by an officer. He revealed an officer had resigned after posting inappropriate comments linked to the G20 protests on a social networking website.
Reader views (3)
Why do they say it is just a few rotten apples but most of them are OK. Maybe they need to look in the barrel.
- George, London, UK, 01/05/2009 01:37
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Heckling? Of course there was - that is what they were there for. More of the same from the same people involved in the protests in the first place - hardly unbiased.
- Rogan, Irving, 30/04/2009 16:18
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"Acting Deputy Commissioner Tim Godwin said the force fully supported the investigation into Mr Tomlinson's death" I bet he does,because on past performence he can be safe in the knowledge it will be another whitewash.
- Kev, London-UK, 30/04/2009 13:46
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