24 May 2011

PC charged with manslaughter over Tomlinson death

PC Simon Harwood, the Metropolitan Police officer involved in the G20 protests death of Ian Tomlinson has been charged with manslaughter and will face trial.

PC Simon Hardwood, who is to be charged with manslaughter in connected with the death of Ian Tomlinson (Reuters)

On Tuesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions decided that there was enough evidence to charge Scotland Yard officer PC Simon Harwood, who will appear in court next month.

The development comes after Keir Starmer QC vowed to launch a quick and “thorough” review of his decision not to prosecute after an inquest jury unanimously ruled earlier this month that the newspaper seller was unlawfully killed at the protests.

Mr Tomlinson collapsed and died on the fringes of the G20 demonstrations in central London on 1 April, 2009, after suffering an internal bleed as a result of the officer’s “excessive and unreasonable” force, the jury said.

Mr Starmer released a statement on Tuesday morning, saying “matters have moved on in two ways” since his previous decision not to pursue criminal charges against the officer.

New medical evidence at the inquest and the opinions of experts during the hearing helped change his mind.

The DPP made the announcement after speaking to Mr Tomlinson’s relatives at the Crown Prosecution Service’s headquarters in central London.

The statement read: “The difficulties that would now confront any prosecution have changed in nature and scale from last year when a decision was taken not to prosecute, although it is clear that real difficulties remain.

“Taking the evidence as it now stands, we have concluded that, even with those remaining difficulties, there is now sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of successfully prosecuting PC Simon Harwood for the manslaughter of Mr Tomlinson.

“That being the case, it is clearly in the public interest that criminal proceedings be brought.

“Accordingly, a summons charging Pc Harwood with the manslaughter of Mr Tomlinson has been obtained from the City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court.”


Speaking after the decision was announced, Mr Tomlinson’s stepson Paul King said relatives were “really happy”. He said: “We are a big step closer to where we want to be.” Despite welcoming the announcement, Mr King, flanked by Mr Tomlinson’s widow Julia, said the decision to prosecute should have been made earlier. Speaking on the steps of the CPS headquarters, he said: “We should have been here two years ago but we are here now and we are more than happy.”

Responding to the CPS decision, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said: “This is clearly a very, very serious matter for all concerned.”
He added: “I have got to be very, very concerned at an inquest verdict that returns a verdict of unlawful killing involving, as the inquest did, one of my police officers.
“My sympathies continue to be with the Tomlinson family.”

Interactive graphic showing Ian Tomlinson's last moments at the 2009 G20 protests: Ian Tomlinson: timeline map