Events | 2009.04.16
Met chief orders review of G20 policing
• Inquiry will look at tactics such as \'kettling\'
• Video evidence of police actions also to be studied
The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson, has ordered a review of public order policing amid mounting concerns over the way his force and the City of London police handled the G20 protests this month.
He also revealed that he has separately called for video evidence of police actions during the demonstrations in London to be reviewed to identify any conduct by officers that may warrant investigation.
Stephenson said he had asked the chief inspector of constabulary, Denis O\'Connor, to examine police tactics, saying: "G20 was a complex policing operation managing the movement and protection of many heads of state across the capital while balancing the right to lawful protest and maintaining public order for many thousands of people."
The move follows the Independent Police Complaints Commission\'s decision to investigate two allegations of assault – one on newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson shortly before he collapsed and died on 1 April and another on a woman at a memorial protest for Tomlinson the following day.
The so-called practice of "kettling" – containing crowds – a tactic the Met has stood by for nearly a decade, will be a prime focus of O\'Connor\'s inquiry.
Stephenson has also barred uniformed police officers from covering their shoulder identification numbers, saying the public has a right to be able to identify them.
In a statement issued by Scotland Yard this afternoon, the commissioner acknowledged that complaints had been raised over "the tactic of containment" and whether this achieved a balance between the right to protest and maintaining public order.
"I want to be reassured that the use of this tactic remains appropriate and proportionate," he said.
"Separately, I have already expressed my concern that the video footage of some police actions is clearly disturbing and should be thoroughly investigated."
In an apparent reference to material routinely gathered at demonstrations by officers on forward intelligence teams, he added: "As well as the post-event investigation into those responsible for violence and disorder, I have also ensured that footage in police possession is reviewed to identify any other matters of individual police conduct that may warrant investigation.
"One matter that I also want to make clear is that uniformed police officers should be identifiable at all times by their shoulder identification numbers. The public has a right to be able to identify any uniformed officer while performing their duty. We must ensure that this is always the case."
The two police officers suspended pending investigations into the alleged assaults on Tomlinson and the woman covered their badges.
A first postmortem on Tomlinson suggested he died from natural causes but a second has been ordered.
The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, said there were "obvious areas of concern" around the G20 protests and welcomed the commissioner\'s decision.
"This is consistent with the police\'s commitment to continually review and examine their operations, so they can continue to meet the difficult challenge of balancing people\'s rights to peaceful protest while keeping the peace and maintaining public safety," she said.
Ministers had recently reformed the office of the chief inspector of constabulary "to increase their capacity to provide this type of advice and it will be the government\'s role to ensure that any lessons are disseminated nationwide.
"There are obvious areas of concern and the sad death of Mr Tomlinson and the incident involving the actions of an individual officer have rightly been referred to the IPCC.
"They will be independently and properly investigated and we await the conclusion of those investigations."
For more information, please visit
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/15/g20-protest-met-police-review
