LONDON – Britain’s Metropolitan Police suspended a sergeant yesterday after video footage showed him lashing out at a woman at a demonstration during the G20 summit in London.
The footage, aired on the website YouTube, showed a protester taunting an officer, who appeared to retaliate by striking her across the face with his hand.
It is the second incidence of apparent police violence during the G20 summit to be caught on camera and prompted criticism of the way police operated during the protests.
One man died during the anti-capitalist demonstrations.
Amid criticism from politicians and civil rights groups, London’s police chief has ordered a review of public order policing tactics, especially the use of “kettling”, where protesters are herded by officers into a confined space.
“I want to be reassured that the use of this tactic remains appropriate and proportionate,” Paul Stephenson said.
Shami Chakrabarti, director of the campaign group Liberty, said it was difficult to understand what could justify “a gargantuan police officer assaulting a small woman for having the audacity to complain”.
Last week a police officer was suspended after being caught on camera pushing newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson to the ground. Mr Tomlinson (47) died of a heart attack after collapsing later in a nearby street.
– (Guardian service)