IPCC to independently investigate the case of Ian Tomlinson

08/04/2009

For Immediate Release

PR 1496         IPCC to independently investigate the case of Ian Tomlinson

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is to independently investigate the alleged assault by police on Ian Tomlinson shortly before his death. The investigation will also look into whether that contact may have contributed to his death.

As with all our investigations, the level of our involvement remains under constant review and when new evidence comes to light, we will always reassess.

The case was referred to the IPCC on the evening of Wednesday 1 April 2009. IPCC investigators were deployed and initially carried out an assessment into the circumstances of his death. Over the course of the next few days IPCC investigators and City of London Police, under IPCC direction, examined CCTV, statements and police records and spoke to independent witnesses. IPCC investigators have also met Mr Tomlinson’s family on a daily basis since the weekend.

Initial accounts from independent witnesses stated that there had been no contact between the police and Mr Tomlinson when he collapsed. However, on Friday afternoon, other witnesses began to come forward, who saw him in the Royal Exchange area. They stated that Mr Tomlinson did have contact with police officers. This would have been a few minutes before he collapsed.  

Over the weekend IPCC investigators and City of London police spoke to further witnesses who confirmed that an earlier incident had taken place in the Royal Exchange area.

A formal decision was taken on Monday 6 April, that the IPCC would manage the City of London Police investigation. This was a continuation of IPCC activity since the referral.  IPCC investigators were directing the investigation, which included directing its scope and lines of enquiry. In a statement announcing the managed investigation on Monday, the IPCC said that decision would be kept under review.

The IPCC issued an appeal for witnesses on Monday 6 April, with a dedicated IPCC phone line and email address for anyone with information to call. Several more witnesses came forward as a result of this. Mr Tomlinson’s family reiterated the appeal for witnesses in a statement and interviews with the media on Tuesday 7 April. This was facilitated by the IPCC.

Yesterday evening, the IPCC was made aware of some footage of the incident running on a national newspaper's website. This was the first time we were made aware of the footage. An IPCC investigator immediately contacted the newspaper and collected the footage from them last night.

This morning, IPCC investigators have been analysing that footage and, in light of this new evidence, a decision has been taken that this investigation will now be fully independent. This means that the IPCC will now use its own full team of investigators.  To ensure that there is no loss of effectiveness, some specialist resources from City of London police will continue to be used to carry out forensic and analytical research for our investigation.

Given this new evidence, the IPCC will request a second post-mortem.

IPCC Deputy Chair Deborah Glass said: “People are rightly concerned about this tragic death and this footage is clearly disturbing.

“We have been heavily involved in this investigation from day one, directing the City of London Police’s investigation and liaising with Mr Tomlinson’s family. In light of new information which we became aware of yesterday evening, we have now taken the decision to independently investigate.

“City of London Police have dedicated a full team of investigators under our direction and this has been enormously helpful in progressing the investigation so far.

“People have been calling for a criminal investigation. I want to stress that, from the outset of all our investigations, we consider whether criminal offences have been committed. This is a criminal investigation and we will, of course, be discussing it with the Crown Prosecution Service.  

“At the moment the investigation is focused on identifying the officers in the footage. Several have already come forward and all efforts are being made to trace those who haven’t.

“We continue to appeal for more information, including any other video footage. Clearly there were a lot of people in the area when this incident happened and we still need people to contact us with any information or images they have of Mr Tomlinson.”

Anybody who saw Mr Tomlinson in Royal Exchange Square is asked to contact the IPCC on 0800-096 9071 or email Tomlinson@ipcc.gov.uk.

- Ends -

Pooled footage will be available for both radio and television outlets from the BBC newsdesk (Prya) on 020 8624 9001 after 4.20pm

For Further Information Contact:

Patricia Keville on 0207 166 3130, Charlotte Phillips on 0207 166 3932 or Amy Wright on 0207 166 3026.  Out of hours contact (journalists only) 07717 851 157

Notes for editors

The IPCC has overall responsibility for the police complaints system.

Since April 2006 it has taken on responsibility for similar, serious complaints against HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious Organised Crime Agency in England and Wales. The IPCC's jurisdiction was extended in 2008 to cover UK Border Agency staff exercising police-like powers.

The IPCC has the task of increasing public confidence in the complaint systems and aims to make investigations more open, timely, proportionate and fair.

The IPCC is run by a Chair, two Deputy Chairs and ten Commissioners.

They guarantee its independence and by law can never have served as police officers. No Commissioner has worked for HM Revenue and Customs.

They are supported by more than 100 independent IPCC investigators plus casework managers and other specialists.

From 1 April 2004 to 31 July 2008 the IPCC has used its powers to begin

282 independent and 677 managed investigations into the most serious complaints against the police and other agencies. It has set new standards for police forces to improve the way the public's complaints are handled. The Commission also handles appeals by the public about the way their complaint was dealt with by the local force.

The IPCC is committed to getting closer to the communities it serves.

Its Commissioners and staff are based in IPCC regional offices in Cardiff, Coalville, London and Sale plus a sub office in Wakefield.

The IPCC web site is constantly updated at www.ipcc.gov.uk or members of the public can contact the IPCC on 08453 002 002.