【The Scotsman】New inquiry to find if Met covered up death at G20

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New inquiry to find if Met covered up death at G20
http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/New-inquiry-to-find-if.5273650.jp

16 May 2009    By RHIANNON EDWARD

THE police watchdog is to investigate whether the public was deliberately misled over the death of Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests.

The launch of a separate and independent inquiry into "the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and City of London Police media handling of the death of Ian Tomlinson" comes after weeks of concern that the public were misinformed about events surrounding the death of the 47-year-old newspaper vendor.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will now investigate how the two forces handled the release of information to the media.

Mr Tomlinson's family have complained that the Metropolitan Police knew its officers had contact with the newspaper seller before he collapsed and died during the protests staged on 1 April.

They allege that the force issued "misinformation" about the level of contact until a newspaper published a video six days later showing an officer pushing Mr Tomlinson to the ground and hitting him with his baton.

Scotland Yard's first statement about Mr Tomlinson's death was issued late on 1 April.

It said officers tried to revive him after being alerted to his collapse by a member of the public, and suggested that some of the protesters had hampered their efforts.

But on 7 April, the Guardian newspaper released a video shot by a fund manager from New York which showed Mr Tomlinson being shoved to the ground from behind by a helmeted police officer.

When the footage was slowed down, the officer could also be seen apparently using his baton to hit the newspaper vendor on the leg.

The IPCC said its inquiry will be separate from its ongoing investigation into the circumstances of Mr Tomlinson's death.

Meanwhile, the IPCC is carrying out another three investigations into allegations that officers assaulted members of the public at the G20 protests.

Scotland Yard said in a statement: "The Commissioner has made it clear on a number of occasions that Ian Tomlinson's family deserve, and should expect, answers to their questions in relation to his death.

"It is important that there is a transparent process, which provides clarity as to what the MPS, City of London Police and the IPCC said and knew regarding the circumstances of Ian Tomlinson's death.

"Therefore we welcome the IPCC investigation and will continue to co-operate fully with them."

The City of London Police also welcomed the IPCC investigation, insisting that it would "co-operate fully" with the watchdog.