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| Ian Tomlinson inquest: Pc Simon Harwood takes stand | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The police constable who pushed Ian Tomlinson to the ground during the G20 protests has taken the stand at the newspaper seller's inquest. | |
| Pc Simon Harwood pushed Mr Tomlinson moments before the 47-year-old collapsed and died, on 1 April 2009. | Pc Simon Harwood pushed Mr Tomlinson moments before the 47-year-old collapsed and died, on 1 April 2009. |
| He told the inquest in London he was there to "help the family". | He told the inquest in London he was there to "help the family". |
| The inquest, at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, is examining the actions of the police, the pathologist and investigators. | The inquest, at the International Dispute Resolution Centre, is examining the actions of the police, the pathologist and investigators. |
| After Judge Peter Thornton QC warned Pc Harwood he was not obliged to answer any questions "tending to incriminate you", the Pc responded: "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. | After Judge Peter Thornton QC warned Pc Harwood he was not obliged to answer any questions "tending to incriminate you", the Pc responded: "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." | "So I'm here to answer questions just to help." |
| At this, members of Mr Tomlinson's family, including stepson Paul King, walked out of the hearing room. | At this, members of Mr Tomlinson's family, including stepson Paul King, walked out of the hearing room. |
| Video footage | Video footage |
| The inquest heard Pc Harwood rejoined the police service in November 2004, going straight into the Territorial Support Group, based in Catford. | The inquest heard Pc Harwood rejoined the police service in November 2004, going straight into the Territorial Support Group, based in Catford. |
| He was asked about his understanding of how officers were allowed to use force when policing public order situations. | He was asked about his understanding of how officers were allowed to use force when policing public order situations. |
| He said: "Use of the reasonable force always has to be justifiable by the individual, nobody else." | He said: "Use of the reasonable force always has to be justifiable by the individual, nobody else." |
| The inquest has seen video footage of Pc Harwood striking Mr Tomlinson, a father of nine, with a baton before pushing him to the floor. | The inquest has seen video footage of Pc Harwood striking Mr Tomlinson, a father of nine, with a baton before pushing him to the floor. |
| Pc Harwood told the jury that officers received regular training in public order policing, about once every five weeks. | Pc Harwood told the jury that officers received regular training in public order policing, about once every five weeks. |
| He said judging when to use a baton or to push depended on the situation the officer faced on the ground. | He said judging when to use a baton or to push depended on the situation the officer faced on the ground. |
| The officer said he had attended a large number of demonstrations during his time in the TSG and on the day of the G20 protests was assigned as a carrier driver. | The officer said he had attended a large number of demonstrations during his time in the TSG and on the day of the G20 protests was assigned as a carrier driver. |
| Asked if he was disappointed to be given this role, he said: "No, never disappointed. We work as a team." | Asked if he was disappointed to be given this role, he said: "No, never disappointed. We work as a team." |
| Earlier the inquest heard from Insp Timothy Williams, who told how Pc Harwood was with him in the team room at Catford when he identified himself in video footage of the incident. | Earlier the inquest heard from Insp Timothy Williams, who told how Pc Harwood was with him in the team room at Catford when he identified himself in video footage of the incident. |
| "I remember saying to him 'had he seen the footage of the incident?' and he said 'no' because he started work so early and then at that point the footage came on to the television," Insp Williams said. | "I remember saying to him 'had he seen the footage of the incident?' and he said 'no' because he started work so early and then at that point the footage came on to the television," Insp Williams said. |
| "When it came on Pc Harwood obviously looked at the footage and he said to me, 'I think that's me'. | "When it came on Pc Harwood obviously looked at the footage and he said to me, 'I think that's me'. |
| "And I looked at him and I said, 'No, no it's not'. | "And I looked at him and I said, 'No, no it's not'. |
| "And he said to me, 'I'm not chomping, I think that's me'." | "And he said to me, 'I'm not chomping, I think that's me'." |
| The inquest heard "chomping" is a term used among Territorial Support Group officers which means "pulling your leg". | The inquest heard "chomping" is a term used among Territorial Support Group officers which means "pulling your leg". |
| The hearing was adjourned until Tuesday. |