Chief inspector: G20 videos concern me
By Ian Dunt
The chief inspector of constabulary, Dennis O Conner, has admitted to MP’s he was “very concerned” by images of police violence at this month’s G20 protests.
Talking to the home affairs committee, Mr Conner said: “When I looked at those images I was very concerned.”
He also expressed his disappointment at the decision by many police – and their superiors – to cover their identity number.
“I shouldn’t have to make an observation about it,” he said.
“It should happen. I would expect people in public order to wear their numerals.”
Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said the police had been warned about the identity concealment trend years ago.
“Three years ago, the IPCC raised concerns that some officers were obscuring their identification numbers during the pro-hunting demonstrations,” he said.
“It is deeply disappointing that this problem raised its ugly head again during the most recent protests, particularly when we were given firm assurances that it would not.”
But the chief inspector was more cautious when discussing the controversial tactic of ‘kettling’, whereby police seal off an area and stop anyone entering or leaving it.
Many protestors say the tactic is an infringement of their democratic right to protest.
“The reason why it’s put there is because London had in the past allowed people to congregate and move more freely, but that allowed some to run through Regent Street and break windows,” he said.
“We’re into a bit of a dilemma here.”
The chief inspector was followed by the head of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
The IPCC has recieved 185 complaints about policing at the G20.
Today, a motion was tabled for the agenda of the next public meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority on the 30th May at City Hall.
The motion recognised that policing the G20 demonstration on the 1st April was difficult, “but believes that the strategy and tactics adopted by the Metropolitan Police were fundamentally wrong.”
It reises concern that “police tactics have become more aggressive in recent years”.
