Police watchdog fails to block new demo video

By Jack Lefley |

The police watchdog has failed in an attempt to stop the broadcast of new footage of the moments leading up to the death of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson at the G20 demonstrations.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission wanted to secure a court order against Channel 4 News when it emerged that the programme planned to broadcast a frame-by-frame analysis of the film, which was shot by a bystander on Cornhill, near the Bank of England.

But a judge refused to grant the injunction and it will be shown tonight on Channel 4 News and More 4 News.

An IPCC spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that we attempted to seek an injunction this evening against Channel 4 as it came to light that they were due to broadcast further evidence which we believe at this moment would potentially damage our criminal investigation into the death of Ian Tomlinson.”

A spokeswoman for ITN, which produces Channel 4 News and More 4 News, said the broadcast was “a responsible piece of journalism that brings important new information into the public domain”.

The Guardian today published stills from the footage which appeared to show the moment MrTomlinson, 47, hit his head on the pavement after he was pushed over by a police officer.

The film appeared briefly on the YouTube website, but was removed.

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