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Met suspends G20 footage officer Met suspends G20 footage officer
(about 1 hour later)
A Metropolitan Police officer shown in YouTube video footage apparently hitting a woman during the G20 summit protests in London has been suspended.A Metropolitan Police officer shown in YouTube video footage apparently hitting a woman during the G20 summit protests in London has been suspended.
The footage shows the woman swearing at a police officer who then appears to hit her in the face before apparently striking her on the leg with his baton.The footage shows the woman swearing at a police officer who then appears to hit her in the face before apparently striking her on the leg with his baton.
The Independent Police Commission (IPCC) is examining the case.The Independent Police Commission (IPCC) is examining the case.
The IPCC has also launched an inquiry into into the death of 47-year-old Ian Tomlinson during the same protests. The IPCC has already launched an inquiry into the death of 47-year-old Ian Tomlinson during the same protests.
Mr Tomlinson died after suffering a heart attack. Witness footage apparently showed Mr Tomlinson was pushed over by a police officer shortly before his death. Officers 'accountable'
A Scotland Yard spokesman said the latest case featuring the woman was being examined by the IPCC. The latest video footage featuring the female protester has been passed to the IPCC, a Scotland Yard spokesman said.
"The officer has been identified and suspended pending further investigation. The officer works as a sergeant in the territorial support group," he added."The officer has been identified and suspended pending further investigation. The officer works as a sergeant in the territorial support group," he added.
Earlier Scotland Yard had said the apparent actions of the officer featured in the new footage raised "immediate concerns". Earlier, police said the apparent actions of the officer featured in the footage raised "immediate concerns".
It is no doubt a pressure cooker environment, however highly-trained professionals are supposed to be better at defusing the situation Shami Chakrabarti Liberty
"Every officer is accountable under law, and fully aware of the scrutiny that their actions can be held open to," police said."Every officer is accountable under law, and fully aware of the scrutiny that their actions can be held open to," police said.
"The decision to use force is made by the individual police officer, and they must account for that.""The decision to use force is made by the individual police officer, and they must account for that."
The IPCC said it had been made aware of the footage by the Met Police and would be looking at the "best way to progress an investigation into the actions of the officer involved". The IPCC said it had been made aware of the latest footage by the Met Police and would now be looking at the "best way to progress an investigation into the actions of the officer involved".
Shami Chakrabarti, director of human rights group Liberty, said it was difficult to understand what justified "a gargantuan police officer assaulting a smaller woman for having the audacity to complain".
"It is no doubt a pressure cooker environment, however highly-trained professionals are supposed to be better at defusing the situation," she added.
'Full-scale inquiry'
The video footage of the female protester emerged as the IPCC continues to investigate the death of Mr Tomlinson, who suffered a heart attack and died during the demonstrations on 1 April.
The IPCC took up the case after footage taken by a New York fund manager showed Mr Tomlinson apparently being pushed to the ground by a police officer shortly before his death.
Days later more video footage aired on Channel 4 appeared to show the newspaper vendor being struck by an officer with a baton.
Ian Tomlinson lived and worked in the City of London
The police officer seen in the video of Mr Tomlinson has been suspended by the Met.
The Liberal Democrats said the fact there were now two examples of officers apparently assaulting members of the public indicated a systematic problem that justified a "full-scale" inquiry.
Labour MP Keith Vaz, chairman of the Commons home affairs select committee, said it was "absolutely right" any allegations regarding the new video footage should be thoroughly investigated.
"In respect of this particular woman, which has been shown to me for the first time this evening, if a complaint is made I think it's absolutely right that there should be a thorough investigation into what the police did.
"That's the right thing that we should do in a democratic society."