Film raises police brutality questions
Updated on 22 June 2009
Two women arrested during last year's climate camp protest at the Kingsnorth Power station launch an official complaint to the independent police watchdog.
Val Swain, 43, and Emily Apple, 33, are taking their claim to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) complete with film footage of their arrests at a demonstration at Kingsnorth power station in Kent in August last year. The footage has been obtained by the Guardian newspaper.
The film apparently reveals that at least four of the officers were not displaying their badge numbers and recorded Ms Apple asking one of the officers to reveal his badge number and his subsequent refusal.
Ms Swain claims that she then went to take a photo of them with her own camera but was then wrestled to the ground and pinned down, along with Ms Apple.
Ms Swain, 43, from Cardiff, was arrested for assault and obstruction while Ms Apple, 33, from Cornwall, was arrested for obstruction and they were held in custody for four days, according to the paper.
All charges against the women have now been dropped: Kent police said they wouldn't comment on individual cases while a judicial review was underway.
Ms Swain told the Guardian: "I am quite shocked that someone can end up in prison for simply taking a photograph."
