Watchdog clears police of G20 death cover-up

A WATCHDOG has found no evidence of any police attempt to cover up Ian Tomlinson's death at the G20 protests in London.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) began an inquiry amid complaints of "seriously misleading" information from police on the evening of his death on 1 April, 2009.

It reviewed all press office contact, including prepared lines for the media. Key evidence included claims the police must have known what was later confirmed by witnesses and video evidence, and the misinformation Mr Tomlinson died from a heart attack.

But IPCC commissioner Deborah Glass said: "While it does not make the circumstances of Mr Tomlinson's death any less disturbing, our investigation found no evidence that any press officer, or any police officer responsible for agreeing media lines, set out to mislead anyone."

The Director of Public Prosecutions is to examine whether PC Simon Harwood, found by an inquest jury to have deliberately shoved Mr Tomlinson to the ground, should be charged with manslaughter.