The family of Ian Tomlinson have accused authorities of a ‘big cover-up’ after learning the riot squad officer filmed knocking him to the ground will not face prosecution over his death.
Mr Tomlinson’s death became global news after amateur video evidence emerged that challenged the original official version of events. The officer, a member of the force’s controversial territorial support group, was caught on camera pushing the newspaper seller to the ground.
Police told his widow and nine children he died of a heart attack after being caught up in crowded streets around the protests.
Mr Tomlinson’s son Paul King said the family were stunned by the decision. He said: “It’s taken 16 months to get a no-charge against this officer. The CPS have clearly admitted that the police officer assaulted our dad. Why hasn’t there been a charge? We have to go home to no dad. It has aged us, the wait.”
But Keir Starmer, Director of Public Prosecutions, said there are “no realistic prospects of a conviction” over the death at the G20 protests.
He added: “After a thorough and careful review of the evidence, the Crown Prosecution Service has decided that there is no realistic prospects of a conviction against the police officer in question for any offence arising from the matter investigated and that no charges should be brought against him.”
Mr Starmer added there is a “fundamental” disagreement among medical experts about what led to Mr Tomlinson’s death. “In the face of this… the CPS embarked on a detailed and careful examination of all the medical evidence and held a series of meetings with experts in an attempt to resolve, or at least narrow, the areas of disagreement. This inevitably took some considerable time.”
Mr Tomlinson, 47, died from internal bleeding after collapsing a short distance away in the City of London on April 1, 2009.
The decision, made on the fifth anniversary of the death of Jean Charles de Menezes, is likely to spark controversy. Campaigners have already said they will gather outside New Scotland Yard to protest against police violence.
The Tomlinson family solicitor Jules Carey said it is “disgraceful” that no one has been prosecuted over the death. He said the family will consider whether they can appeal against the decision.
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