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A secret police report into the killing of a teacher at an anti-facist rally 30 years ago must be published to prevent further deaths during demonstrations, a parliamentary committee said today.
The influential Joint Committee on Human Rights also raised serious concerns about the Met Police's use of "kettling" tactics during the G20 protests on 1 April during which newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson died.
Andrew Dismore MP, who chairs the committee, called for the full report into the death of Blair Peach to be made public.
Mr Peach, a New Zealand-born special needs teacher, was killed by a blow to the head from a police baton in 1979 while attempting to leave a demonstration in Southall.
Despite an inquest finding that at least one member of the Met's now-disbanded Special Patrol Group had attacked Mr Peach, nobody has been prosecuted.
The anti-fascist protester's partner, Celia Stubbs, has backed calls for the release of a secret report into the death by John Cass, the commander who ran the complaints bureau.
Mr Cass, 84, recently approved the disclosure which would reveal the identities of officers he considered suspects.
Mr Dismore said: "Today's Metropolitan Police Service has nothing to fear from a report on events 30 years ago, which would give perspective on the development of police strategy and might help restore the confidence that has been damaged."
The parliamentary committee wrote to Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson on 9 June urging for documents from the internal police inquiry into Mr Peach's death to be released.
Today's JCHR report also finds the use of kettling as a containment tactic during the G20 protests meant police did not recognise the human rights of the protesters.
It also described communication between police and protesters as "very poor".
Reader views (1)
It also described communication between police and protesters as "very poor".
Yep, it's pretty difficult to communicate with people chanting mindlessly, or better still those screaming insults and blanket accusations in your face.
- Rogan, Irving, 28/07/2009 16:25
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