Relatives storm out as G20 officer gives evidence at inquest

RELATIVES of Ian Tomlinson stormed out of his inquest after the police officer who pushed the newspaper seller to the ground during the G20 protests told an inquest he wanted to “help the family”.

Judge Peter Thornton told PC Simon Harwood: “I’m sure that you know and no doubt will have been advised that you are not obliged to answer any question tending to incriminate you.

“It may well be that I shall repeat that warning to you later, reminding you that you may refuse to answer a question if the answer tends to incriminate you.”

PC Harwood, dressed in a grey suit and patterned yellow tie, said: “I’m very aware of that. I’m here as a witness to help with the inquest and also to give some sort of answers to help the family.

“So I’m here to answer questions, just to help.”

At this family members, including stepson Paul King, walked out of the hearing room.

Mr Tomlinson’s collapse on the pavement on the fringes of demonstrations in London on April 1, 2009 became global news after video footage challenged the original official version of events.

Pathologist Freddy Patel found the 47-year-old died of natural causes, but amateur video later showed him being pushed to the ground by PC Harwood.

He died after staggering about 100 yards and falling to the ground in Cornhill, near St Michael’s Alley.

PC Harwood was asked about his understanding of how officers were allowed to use force when policing public order situations.

He said: “Use of reasonable force always has to be justifiable by the individual, nobody else.”

The inquest has seen video footage of PC Harwood striking Mr Tomlinson with a baton before pushing him to the floor.

Mr Tomlinson can be seen turning away from a line of officers with his hands in his pockets before he is shoved in the back.

PC Harwood told the jury officers received regular training in public order policing, about once every five weeks.

The family members later rejoined the hearing and PC Harwood told the inquest he was in fear of his life when a hostile crowd turned on him earlier in the day.

He said he became the centre of attention, with the protesters jeering and shouting as he tried to arrest a man on suspicion of criminal damage to one of the police vans.

The officer said there was a “large gasp” from the crowd as the suspect he had hold of collided with the door of a police van. Footage showed him leading the man further away from the vans with the crowd surging behind him.

He said: “At the time, because he was becoming more aggressive, more hostile, I was starting to believe that this was getting out of control.”

He added: “I was aware there was a very hostile crowd and I was actually in fear for my life then from what was coming towards me.”

PC Harwood was asked whether, given the atmosphere in the crowd, he made the right decision to try to arrest the man.

He said the suspect had been writing on the vehicle right in front of him and added: “I believe it was my duty to go and take some course of action towards this male.”

The inquest continues today.