Police officer punched me in face, G20 protestor tells UK MPs

A protester told MPs today he was punched in the face by a police officer during the G20 demonstrations.

Chris Abbott, 30, from Reading, said he was sitting peacefully at the climate camp on Bishopsgate, central London, on April 1 when protesters were “charged” by police without warning.

One officer punched him in the face, and he was hit repeatedly with riot shields, he said.

Mr Abbott, who works for a think tank, told the Home Affairs Committee he had been laughing and joking with officers only minutes before he was “beaten up”.

He said: “There was no warning given, there was no request to move. We were sat on the floor and the police advanced on us. They pressure pointed my girlfriend – which was extremely painful.

“Whilst this was happening a police officer leant over the top of her and directly punched me in the face.”

He said police actions amounted to assault. The investigation in to his complaint is being managed by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, he said.

He added: “It’s very difficult to take down police numbers when you are being beaten up by officers with riot shields.”

“You do not expect to be beaten up by the police when you are exercising your right to protest on something as important as climate change.”