G20 Pc sacked after Met hearing (From St Helens Star)

G20 Pc sacked after Met hearing

2:56pm Monday 17th September 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

The police officer cleared of killing Ian Tomlinson will be sacked after being found guilty of gross misconduct at a disciplinary hearing dismissed by the newspaper seller's family as a "whitewash".

A Metropolitan Police disciplinary panel, sitting in public for the first time, dismissed Pc Simon Harwood for breaking rules relating to professional standards.

The 45-year-old hit Mr Tomlinson with a baton and shoved him to the ground on the fringes of the G20 protests in April 2009.

Father-of-nine Mr Tomlinson, who was moving away from police lines at the time, managed to walk 75 yards before he collapsed, and later died from internal injuries.

Chairman of the panel Commander Julian Bennett said of Harwood: "His actions have discredited the police service and undermined public confidence in it.

"He has accepted it will be impossible for him to ever again serve as a police officer. We agree, as we consider it inconceivable that he could ever hold a role within the police service again."

Mr Bennett said Harwood was dismissed with immediate effect.

James Lewis QC, for the Metropolitan Police, told the hearing Harwood's behaviour was "utterly unacceptable for the police service and completely justifies his immediate dismissal".

Speaking outside the hearing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Maxine de Brunner said: "We must remember on April 1, 2009, Ian Tomlinson lost his life. I take full responsibility for Simon Harwood and I would like to offer my sincere apologies and condolences to his family.

"Today's hearing has resulted in the maximum penalty that was ever available to the panel, dismissal due to gross misconduct. That leaves no ambiguity as to how the Met views the actions of Simon Harwood."