Surprise, surprise: no charges, no accountability over Ian Tomlinson

As with the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes, there will be no justice.

By James Macintyre Published 22 July 2010 12:53

As I depressingly predicted yesterday, the Crown Prosecution Service has just ruled that there will be no charges over the death of Ian Tomlinson, attacked by police as he walked home on the day of the G20 riots last year. Not just that, but there is, we are told, "no case to answer". Shocking but unsurprising.

The unaccountability of the police remains one of the biggest disgraces in this country. Will the coalition government do anything about it? Like with justice for Jean Charles de Menezes and Ian Tomlinson, I wouldn't hold your breath.

More from James Macintyre

17 comments

Thu, 2010-07-22 19:51 — Pawnie Osborne (not verified)

the public will have to take measures to protect themselves from the police

Thu, 2010-07-22 13:10 — John Kennedy (not verified)

Did the Millwall T-shirt/top provoke the attack...?

Thu, 2010-07-22 13:11 — Boldero (not verified)

Keep the pressure up Mr Macintyre, dont let this injustice fade away. You and the New Statesman are one of the few publications that are prepared to call it like it is.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Thu, 2010-07-22 13:13 — Sam (not verified)

Disgraceful, police have license to kill in this country.

Thu, 2010-07-22 13:41 — russ (not verified)

after being failed by IPCC myself I thought they may redeam themselvs to me by prosecuting the police officer responsable for the death of mr Tomlinson......I now see that the police are untouchable and are a law unto themselves. my thoughts go out to Ians family.

Thu, 2010-07-22 13:42 — mitchy

It seems the police in this country are incapable of non-violent law enforcement, so perhaps its time to call a halt to non-violent protest to such behaviour?

Thu, 2010-07-22 13:42 — Gary Stroud (not verified)

There is little faith in the police as it is but this decision (especially not even a charge of assault) will enhance suspicions that they are above the law. Disgraceful!

Thu, 2010-07-22 14:09 — Pete (not verified)

So if the roles had been reversed and Mr Tomlinson had assaulted the police officer in the same way with the same outcome he wouldn't have faced charges? I don't think so.

Thu, 2010-07-22 15:03 — ROBERT TAGGART (not verified)

Hate Coppers ?
Solution (for taking out your anger)... take a sledge hammer (under cover !) and have a swing at the various police memorials dotted about the country. Best time ? When it be dark !

Thu, 2010-07-22 15:45 — Boldero (not verified)

This so called police officer wasnt charged with assault because he needed to have been charged within 6 months of the incident. The CPS knew this, yet still chose to take almost a year to finally decide to dismiss this case.

A disgracefull whitewash is what it is.

Thu, 2010-07-22 16:39 — Freeman2

Demonstrations will simply become more violent as protestors become aware of the need for self-defence.

Thu, 2010-07-22 13:19 — Old Holborn (not verified)

Stay away from London. Gangs of violent thugs are going around killing people and getting away with it. They call themselves "the Police"

Thu, 2010-07-22 19:48 — Eve Lynn (not verified)

Never posted here before, but - after this decision - I felt I needed the company of decent, fellow citizens. I suddenly feel we're not going there...we are there! And history has a way of changing places we should never have arrived at. But not without pain.

Thu, 2010-07-22 22:21 — praha7 (not verified)

Ihave just been looking at the Guardian's story on this same subject,hundreds of comments all very angry as here.
Perhaps it is time for a very large demonstration in London on the need to make the police accountable.
Maybe that nice Mr.Clegg who is always so worried about civil rights might lead it.

Thu, 2010-07-22 22:24 — Boldero (not verified)

Good for you Eve Lynn, the more people that stand up and say 'no more, this is not good enough' the better.

The gradual alienation of the public by succesive governments that have publicly pandered to the police forces in the uk has eroded public confidence in the police and their role in society.

The words 'as ye sow, so shall ye reap' come to mind.

The Met is an outdated, institutionalised, racist, bigoted big boys club, and the sooner it and all other regional police forces are broken up and reformed into one publically overseen and accountable force the better.

Thu, 2010-07-22 22:47 — jeremiah

Bloody awful. All you have to do to be killed by the Old Bill is to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Keir Starmer is a disgrace in allowing this to go unpunished.

Dodgy Dossier By A Dodgy Coroner's picture

Fri, 2010-07-23 14:16 — Dodgy Dossier By A Dodgy Coroner (not verified)

They hired a dodgy coroner to get a dodgy report, the weapon of mass destruction in this case was a riot policeman. The Police do not Protect and Serve they Intimidate and Harm. One should always keep a wide berth from this group in society as they are not to be Trusted, look at all. the miscarriages of justice in the past few decades not to mention the deaths in custody My sympathies to the victims family as they will be in the courts for years now fighting the injustice as is the normal with a cover up.