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| Jody McIntyre wheelchair complaint: Tuition fees police cleared | Jody McIntyre wheelchair complaint: Tuition fees police cleared |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Police were justified in removing a man from his wheelchair during a violent demonstration against tuition fees in central London, Scotland Yard has said. | Police were justified in removing a man from his wheelchair during a violent demonstration against tuition fees in central London, Scotland Yard has said. |
| Jody McIntyre said he was tipped out of his chair and dragged across a road on 9 December, as well as being assaulted with a baton by an officer. | Jody McIntyre said he was tipped out of his chair and dragged across a road on 9 December, as well as being assaulted with a baton by an officer. |
| A police probe found officers were right to remove him from the wheelchair based on the "perceived risk" to him. | A police probe found officers were right to remove him from the wheelchair based on the "perceived risk" to him. |
| It also found the 20-year-old was "inadvertently" struck by the baton. | |
| Mr McIntyre has four weeks to appeal against the findings, if he wishes to do so. | |
| 'Not a threat' | |
| Violent disorder was taking place at the time and officers were "under sustained attack and were required to use force to protect themselves", the Directorate of Professional Standards at the Metropolitan Police (Met) said. | |
| "Whilst there is evidence that Jody McIntyre was inadvertently struck with a police baton, the investigation found that the actions of officers were justifiable and lawful given the volatile and dangerous situation," the force added in a statement. | |
| "His removal from his wheelchair was also justifiable given the officers' perceived risk to Jody McIntyre." | |
| Internal guidelines will now be drawn up, however, on the most appropriate way to move a wheelchair user in such circumstances. | |
| In December Mr McIntyre told the BBC he was "100% not a threat to anyone" during the demonstration | |
| He claimed he was discriminated against because of his disability. | |
| Acting Commander Carl Bussey, head of the Directorate of Professional Standards, said the allegations had been "extremely concerning" and "damaging" to the Met's reputation. | |
| But it was "only right" the force reported back on what actually happened, he added. |