Wednesday, February 09, 2005
POLICE INVESTIGATED
I saw the effects of this policing and a level of force which leaves two unarmed Fitz ladies with serious cuts and bruises and our whipper-in with a cut so deep to his face that it required stitching can surely not be justified.
Police investigated over protest -BBC
Protestors were using their 'right to demonstrate'Up to 22 Met police officers are being investigated over alleged "excessive use of force" during a pro-hunting demonstration in London.
It is thought to be the biggest inquiry carried out by the new Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
Up to 1,000 officers clashed with some of the protesters opposing the vote to ban fox hunting, in Parliament Square in September 2004.
John Cummins from the IPCC said it was a difficult investigation.
"At any one time during the afternoon there was up to 20,000 people in Parliament Square," he told BBC News.
"It has been a challenge to us to contact as many witnesses as possible."
More than 100 hours of video footage is being examined, mainly from CCTV cameras, and 450 statements have been taken.
Darren Hughes from the Countryside Alliance said there was a huge amount of frustration and quite a lot of anger amongst those who took part in the protest.
"These people feel they're law abiding citizens who were using their right to demonstrate and were harshly treated by the police," he said.
John Wadham, deputy chairman of the IPCC said: "We'll have to look at the lessons that need to be learnt about what went wrong and what could have been done to achieve a safer and peaceful demonstration."
Officers will be interviewed this month and the results are expected to be published in the summer.
The Met and the Police Federation have refused to comment.
Police investigated over protest -BBC
Protestors were using their 'right to demonstrate'Up to 22 Met police officers are being investigated over alleged "excessive use of force" during a pro-hunting demonstration in London.
It is thought to be the biggest inquiry carried out by the new Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
Up to 1,000 officers clashed with some of the protesters opposing the vote to ban fox hunting, in Parliament Square in September 2004.
John Cummins from the IPCC said it was a difficult investigation.
"At any one time during the afternoon there was up to 20,000 people in Parliament Square," he told BBC News.
"It has been a challenge to us to contact as many witnesses as possible."
More than 100 hours of video footage is being examined, mainly from CCTV cameras, and 450 statements have been taken.
Darren Hughes from the Countryside Alliance said there was a huge amount of frustration and quite a lot of anger amongst those who took part in the protest.
"These people feel they're law abiding citizens who were using their right to demonstrate and were harshly treated by the police," he said.
John Wadham, deputy chairman of the IPCC said: "We'll have to look at the lessons that need to be learnt about what went wrong and what could have been done to achieve a safer and peaceful demonstration."
Officers will be interviewed this month and the results are expected to be published in the summer.
The Met and the Police Federation have refused to comment.
