Prosecutors Given File On G20 Death

A file of evidence about the death of Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests in London in April has been given to prosecutors by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

Mr Tomlinson, 47, died shortly after he was pushed over by a policeman. Two post-mortem examinations found that his death may have due to a heart attack or abdominal bleeding.

Mr Tomlinson, a newspaper seller, had not been involved in the protests, which took place in the capital on April 1.

A police constable was interviewed under caution on suspicion of manslaughter. He remain suspended from duty.

IPCC Commissioner for London, Deborah Glass, said: "This investigation is one of the largest ever undertaken by the IPCC and it has been the subject of huge public scrutiny. Our investigators have worked tirelessly to complete this large and complex investigation as quickly and efficiently as possible and we will now wait for the CPS's decision as to whether a prosecution will be brought."

More than 40 IPCC investigators and other members of IPCC staff from all five of the IPCC's regional offices have been involved in the case.

More than 190 premises were visited during a CCTV trawl, which resulted in footage being obtained from more than 220 cameras. Police footage was also reviewed, including that taken from police evidence gatherers and the police helicopter, as well as footage from mobile phones and cameras belonging to members of the public. Overall, this amounted to more than 1,200 hours of footage, which has been reviewed by a team of IPCC investigators.

Statements were also taken from 193 members of the public, as well as police officers and staff and medical experts.

The criminal investigation is specifically focused on the actions of an officer seen in contact with Mr Tomlinson in Royal Exchange passage, near the Bank of England.

An investigation is also continuing into complaints made by Mr Tomlinson's family, including the complaint about the media handling in the aftermath of his death.

The IPCC has also confirmed that two other independent investigations have also been completed: one into the complaint from Nicola Fisher, which alleged that she had been assaulted by an MPS TSG officer on April 2 and the other into an allegation that a woman was assaulted by the same officer on April 1, while a group of people were held in an alleyway connecting Bishopsgate and Great St Helens.

The IPCC confirmed that files of evidence had also been passed to the CPS with regard to both cases.

A further independent investigation - into an allegation that a 23-year-old woman was assaulted by officers on April 1 - has also been concluded and the report is being finalised.

A sixth independent investigation into an allegation of excessive force by an officer against a 23-year-old man from London has been re-determined after the complainant withdrew his complaint.

(KMcA/BMC)