Deputy mayor for policing and crime authorises Metropolitan police to settle claim over death of London man in G20 protests
The Metropolitan police are close to making an offer of compensation to the family of Ian Tomlinson, who died after being pushed to the ground by a riot officer during the G20 protests in London in April 2009.
The deputy mayor for policing and crime in London, Stephen Greenhalgh, has authorised the Met to settle the claim. It is thought an announcement could be made within the next few days.
Tomlinson, 47, collapsed as he tried to find his way through police lines near the Bank of England during the protests four years ago. He had been an alcoholic for several years and it was initially presumed he died of natural causes – a conclusion supported by an initial postmortem examination, which gave the cause as heart failure.
But six days later the Guardian published video footage shot by an American in London on business that showed a policeman in riot gear – PC Simon Harwood – striking Tomlinson on the leg with a baton before shoving him violently to the pavement, minutes before his final collapse.
The family decided to take civil action against the Metropolitan police after being left with two seemingly contradictory verdicts. An inquest jury took just three hours to decide that Tomlinson had been unlawfully killed by a police officer. But a jury in a subsequent criminal trial found Harwood not guilty of Tomlinson's manslaughter.
Tomlinson's widow, Julia, and seven of his children and stepchildren have since pursued the compensation claim at the high court.
According to documents from the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (Mopac), Tomlinson's family has been seeking damages for "assault and battery", bereavement damages for his widow, "dependency claims" for each family member for "breach of the right to life", and funeral expenses.
In March this year, Mopac said the case had had a "significant impact on public confidence" and on the public's perception of fairness. It said "settling this case may assist in restoring public confidence".
Greenhalgh gave approval to begin negotiations with lawyers for Tomlinson's family, and the Met's legal department later asked the deputy mayor to "agree to increase the sum offered" to settle the claim.
Greenhalgh gave his authorisation for that in a document dated 30 June. The amount of money has not been disclosed.
Tomlinson's family is also seeking an apology from the Met and for the force to accept responsibility for his death on 1 April 2009.
