G20 PC to be accused of gross misconduct

A POLICE riot squad officer who escaped prosecution over the death of a newspaper seller during the G20 protests was served with gross misconduct allegations yesterday.

PC Simon Harwood will be accused of hitting Ian Tomlinson with his baton and pushing him to the ground, in actions that "inadvertently caused or contributed" to his death on 1 April last year.

Deborah Glass, IPCC deputy chairwoman and Commissioner for London, said: "From the moment the video was published, there has been an overwhelming public feeling that the officer seen to strike Ian Tomlinson should be held accountable for his actions.

"Because of the gravity and exceptional circumstances of this case, it may be in the public interest for me to direct that the hearing be held in public."

However Mr Tomlinson's widow Julia said "the possibility Harwood might lose his job is not the genuine accountability that our family have waited so long for".

She said: "We cautiously welcome the fact that Deborah Glass has said that 'there has been an overwhelming public feeling that the officer seen to strike Ian Tomlinson should be held accountable for his actions'."