Ian Tomlinson: Pc Simon Harwood, the Met escapes and the Sun’s lies
PC Simon Harwood will keep his police pension. Make that former Pc Simon Harwood, the copper sacked for gross misconduct. Ian Tomlinson’s family may well laugh. In Tomlinson was the man who died at the G20 protest in London back in 2009. Harwood was filmed hitting Tomlinson and pushing him to the ground. Tomlinson was on his way home from work. He was minding his own business. His hands were in his pockets. He was facing the other way.
An inquest ruled that Mr Tomlinson had been unlawfully killed. Dr Freddy Patel’s initial verdict was that Mr Tomlinson died of natural causes. That was wrong.
The Killing Of Ian Tomlinson In Photos
Harwood admitted using unnecessary force. He was acquitted of manslaughter.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Maxine de Brunner of the Met Police says Hawwood cannot lose his pension because he was not convicted of a criminal offence in relation to death of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson. She says:
“Simon Harwood will retain his pension when he reaches pensionable age. I’m unable to remove his pension because he has not been convicted of a criminal offence…We must remember on April 1, 2009 Ian Tomlinson lost his life. I take full responsibility for Simon Harwood and I would like to offer my sincere apologies and condolences to his family. Today’s hearing has resulted in the maximum penalty that was ever available to the panel – dismissal due to gross misconduct. That leaves no ambiguity as to how the Met views the actions of Simon Harwood.”
She takes full responsibility. Good. Sack her as well, then.
Harwood did not work alone. Here is why his bosses at the Met should be charged, too.
But the police looking at Harwood board didn’t debate that. The panel – two police officers and a lay member – also decided against debating the allegation that Pc Harwood’s actions inadvertently caused or contributed to the death of Mr Tomlinson.
After he was hit, Tomlinson walked less than 100 yards. He collapsed. He died from internal injuries.
Harwood’s brief told the disciplinary hearing it was “impossible for him ever again to be employed as a police officer”.
But he’s being rash. Others with a thuggish reputarion should not be put off form joining the Met.
In 2001, Harwood resigned from the police service on medical grounds. At the time he was the subject of unresolved disciplinary proceedings. He was accused of an act of raod rage, in which he was accsued of yelling at another driver and knocking him to the ground. Harwood was acsued of then stating that he was a police officer and then man on the ground was under arrest on a charge of common assault.
The proceedings were discontinued when Harwood retired.
PC Harwood recovered hi ehalth and rejoined the police. He became an officer ith Surrey police. In 2004 he rejoned the Met. AHrwood ebcame part of the part of its territorial support group (TSG).
Note: On April 2, 2009, the Sun reported: Man dies as bottles lobbed at rescuers:
POLICE were battered with beer bottles and cans as they desperately tried to save a dying man at the height of the G20 riots in London last night. The casualty, believed to be in his mid-40s, was knocked to the floor amid the mob near the Bank of England.
But when cops struggled through the crowd to reach him, they were pelted with missiles. They finally got to him and set up a cordon as two ambulances rushed to the scene. Officers gave the man mouth-to-mouth before paramedics tried in vain to save him…
The man, shaven headed and wearing a Millwall FC top with a grey T-shirt over the top, died at the scene. ..
Really? The “mob” killed Ian Tomlinson, who is portrayed less as an innocent bystander than a football hooligan.
On Wednesday 1 April 23:36pm, the police statement ran:
A member of the public went to a police officer on a cordon in Birchin Lane, junction with Cornhill to say that there was a man who had collapsed round the corner. That officer sent two police medics through the cordon line and into St Michaels Alley where they found a man who had stopped breathing. They called for LAS support at about 1930.
The officers gave him an initial check and cleared his airway before moving him back behind the cordon line to a clear area outside the Royal Exchange Building where they gave him CPR.
The officers took the decision to move him as during this time a number of missiles – believed to be bottles – were being thrown at them. LAS took the man to hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The Directorate of Professional Standards at both the MPS and City of London Police have been informed. The IPCC has been informed.
No word on Tomlinson having been struck by police, nor on the protestors helping the stricken man.
But other eyewitnesses say only one bottle was thrown, and it was plastic.
As for that beer-swilling mob…
The Killing Of Ian Tomlinson In Photos
Posted: 18th, September 2012 | In: Key Posts, Reviews Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
