G20 officer on misconduct charge

Ian Tomlinson being given treatment after collapsing at the G20Ian Tomlinson died despite receiving medical attention at the scene of the clashes
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A police officer filmed pushing a man to the ground during the G20 protests is to face a police misconduct hearing.

Ian Tomlinson, 47, died after being caught up in the clashes on 1 April 2009 in the City of London.

In July the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided not to press criminal charges against Pc Simon Harwood.

He will face a charge of gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing, which could be held in the next 30 days and could be conducted in public.

The constable, from the Metropolitan Police territorial support group, faces dismissal without notice if the allegations are proven.

Pc Harwood is accused of hitting the newspaper seller with his baton and pushing him to the ground in actions that “inadvertently caused or contributed” to his death.

He will also be accused of using force that “was not necessary, proportionate or reasonable in the circumstances”.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is consulting with the Tomlinson family, the officer and 105 potential witnesses on whether to hold the misconduct hearing in public.

Allegations against Pc HarwoodThat he struck Mr Tomlinson on his left thigh with his batonThat he pushed Mr Tomlinson so he fell to the groundSuch dangerous actions inadvertently caused or contributed to the death of Mr TomlinsonThe use of force was not necessary, proportionate or reasonable in the

Deborah Glass, the IPCC deputy chair and commissioner for London, said: “From the moment the video was published to the world in April 2009, there has been an overwhelming public feeling that the officer seen to strike Ian Tomlinson should be held accountable for his actions.”

Mr Tomlinson, a newspaper seller who was not involved in the protests, was walking home when he was caught up in the demonstration.

The video footage showed him being apparently struck by a baton and then pushed to the ground.

He was seen moving away after the incident but was found collapsed 100m away in Cornhill.

The CPS decided not to press ahead with criminal charges as there was “sharp disagreement between the medical experts” about the cause of death, which led to three post-mortem examinations being conducted on Mr Tomlinson.

No date has been set for the hearing, which will be presided over by two senior Metropolitan Police officers and an independent member of the public selected from a list appointed by the Metropolitan Police Authority.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

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