Bloodied protesters shout at police near to the Bank of England as anti capitalist and climate change activists demonstrate in the City of London on April 1, 2009 in London, England
A protester throws a metal barricade at a police line as Anti capitalist and climate change activists demonstrate in the City of London on April 1, 2009 in London
Protesters clash with police near to the Bank of England as anti capitalist and climate change activists demonstrate in the City of London on April 1, 2009 in London, England.
A British police officer in riot gear looks on as protesters throw eggs and other objects during a rally in central London's financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009. Some 4,000 anarchists, anti-capitalists, environmentalists and others clogged the streets of London's financial district ahead of the G20 leaders' summit in London Thursday. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Riot police clash with demonstrators in the City of London, Wednesday, April 1, 2009. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the City of London on Wednesday as world leaders are scheduled to meet for the G20 summit in London on Thursday to discuss issues on the global financial crisis.(AP Photo/Akira Suemori)
British police officers in riot gear secure the area in central London's City financial district, late Wednesday April 1, 2009. Some 4,000 anarchists, anti-capitalists, environmentalists and others clogged the streets of London's financial district ahead of the G20 leaders' summit in London Thursday. While most of the protests were peaceful, some protesters clashed with riot police during the long-day protests. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
British police with dogs face protesters in central London's financial district, during minor clashes late Wednesday April 1, 2009. Some 4,000 anarchists, anti-capitalists, environmentalists and others clogged the streets of London's financial district ahead of the G20 leaders' summit in London Thursday. While most of the protests were peaceful, some protesters clashed with riot police during the long-day protests. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Riot police attempt to disperse demonstrators as they set fire to newspapers in the City of London, Wednesday, April 1, 2009. Thousands of demonstrators gathered in the City of London on Wednesday as world leaders are scheduled to meet for the G20 summit in London on Thursday to discuss issues on the global financial crisis.(AP Photo/Akira Suemori)
A lone protester confronts British police officers in riot gear during clashes in central London's City financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009. Some 4,000 anarchists, anti-capitalists, environmentalists and others clogged the streets of London's financial district ahead of the G20 leaders' summit in London Thursday. While most of the protests were peaceful, some protesters clashed with riot police during the long-day protests. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Backdropped by London landmark Tower Bridge British police officers in riot gear secure the area in central London following minor clashes with protesters late Wednesday April 1, 2009. Some 4,000 anarchists, anti-capitalists, environmentalists and others clogged the streets of London's financial district ahead of the G20 leaders' summit in London Thursday. While most of the protests were peaceful, some protesters clashed with riot police during the long-day protests. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Police push protesters back in central London's financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009 ahead of the G20 summit. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests and terrorists. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson)
Ian Tomlinson walks home
A police officer moves in on him
The officer prepares to push him
Mr Tomlinson falls to the ground
A bystander offers his help
Mr Tomlinson is able to walk away
Minutes later, Mr Tomlinson collapses to the floor and is treated by an officer
Police push protesters back in central London's financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009 ahead of the G20 summit. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests and terrorists. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson)
Police officers treat a injured protester in central London's financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009 ahead of the G20 summit . World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests and terrorists. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson)
A police officer leads a detained protester to a police van in central London's financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009 following scuffles ahead of the G20 summit . World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests and terrorists. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson)
Police officers treat a injured protester in London's financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009 ahead of the G20 summit. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests and terrorists. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson)
Police officers on horseback push protesters back in London's financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009 ahead of the G20 summit. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests and terrorists. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson)
Police officers arrest a protester in London's financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009 ahead of the G20 summit. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests and terrorists. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson)
A police officer treats an injured protester in London's financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009 ahead of the G20 summit. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests and terrorists. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson)
Police officers hold back protesters in London's financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009 ahead of the G20 summit. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests and terrorists. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson)
Police officers detain a protester in central London's financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009 ahead of the G20 summit. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests and terrorists. (AP Photo/Simon Dawson)
A protester throws an object through the already broken window of a Royal Bank of Scotland branch in London's financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
British police in riot gear, left, beat protesters in central London's financial district, during clashes, Wednesday April 1, 2009. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis_violent protests. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
British police in riot gear face protesters in central London's City financial district, during clashes, Wednesday April 1, 2009. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
British police in riot gear and a police photographer stand inside damaged offices after protesters broke the front windows of a Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) branch in London's City financial district, Wednesday April 1, 2009. World leaders are gathering in London for the Group of 20 summit amid an unprecedented security operation to protect the meeting from violent protests. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis)
Attack: a still from video footage showing a police officer striking a young woman
15 April 2009
The Metropolitan police was facing fresh criticism over its handling of the G20 protests in London after a new video emerged yesterday of an officer with a concealed shoulder number striking a woman with a baton.
A selection of video material and still photographs circulated yesterday appeared to show an officer hitting a woman with the back of his hand, telling her to “get back now”, before drawing his baton and striking her on the legs. The woman, who is originally heard to be swearing at the police officers, falls to the ground amidst horrified cries from bystanders.
Unlike his colleagues in the pictures, the officer appears to have his shoulder number hidden, with the epaulettes on his jacket concealed by strips of grey material.
The incident is believed to have taken place at 3.30pm on April 1 near the Bank of England, where around 5,000 people had been penned into the area by police |cordons. Before the attack, the video shows protesters attempting to leave the cordon and finding themselves blocked by police in the controversial method of crowd control known as “kettling”.
Yesterday, as the film was posted on YouTube, activists posted an appeal on the internet for witnesses to come forward with a view to making a complaint to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
The footage prompted a wave of criticism. David Howarth, the Liberal Democrat justice spokesman, called for a “full-scale inquiry”, adding: “The fact that this video shows another example of an officer with his number obscured assaulting a member of the public indicates that there is a systematic problem here, not just a series of individual acts of misconduct.”
Shami Chakrabarti, director of the human rights group Liberty, said: “It is very difficult to understand what justifies a gargantuan police officer assaulting a smaller woman for having the audacity to complain.”
The Labour MP David Winnick called the incident “outright police brutality” and said the latest footage strengthened his demand for Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to make a statement about police tactics at the G20 when parliament returns next week.
WARNING: This video contains language which some people may find offensive
The video intensifies pressure on the IPCC, which is already facing criticism over its speed and handling of the criminal inquiry into the death of Ian Tomlinson, the 42-year-old newspaper seller who died of a heart attack minutes after being pushed to the ground by a police officer near the Bank of England.
It also raises further questions about the transparency of the police and their |intentions at the G20 protests after new pictures of the officer who attacked Ian Tomlinson that emerged last week suggested he had removed his shoulder number and covered his face with a balaclava before hitting him with a baton and pushing him to the ground. The officer has been suspended.
As the new video came to light yesterday, the police watchdog was already facing criticism over original claims of the use of CCTV cameras during the protests. The IPCC had originally said that “no CCTV footage” had been used in the area around Royal Exchange Passage, where the video showed Tomlinson was assaulted. Interviewed on Channel 4 News on Thursday, Hardwick IPCC chair Nick Hardwick said there was no CCTV evidence of alleged police assaults.
“We don't have CCTV footage of the incident,” he said. “There is no CCTV footage — there were no cameras in the location where he was assaulted.”
But at 10.30am yesterday — after pictures were published clearly showing cameras in the area — the IPCC was forced to change its stance, saying that Hardwick was mistaken in his original claim.
“At this point, Mr Hardwick believed that he was correct in this assertion — we know now this may not be accurate,” it said in a statement. “There are cameras in the surrounding area.”
The retraction adds further embarrassment to the IPCC, which has already |reversed its original decision to allow City of London police officers to investigate the death.
Speaking in the wake of the new video yesterday, a spokesman for Scotland Yard said: “Every officer is accountable under law, and fully aware of the scrutiny that their actions can be held open to. The |decision to use force is made by the individual police officer, and they must account for that.”
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