Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? *

‘The police officer who was cleared on Thursday of killing Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests has been repeatedly accused of using excessive force against members of the public, it can be reported following the end of his trial.[1]’

 So PC Simon Harwood has been cleared of the manslaughter of Ian Tomlinson. Reading his testimony in today's Guardian:-

 ‘………could he [ Harwood]  name the methods open to police during a hypothetical public order situation if they wanted to move someone, such as Ian Tomlinson, who was seen to be an obstruction?
Harwood, dressed as throughout the trial in a crisp, dark suit, paused briefly and leaned slightly forward in the witness box. You could use a baton strike to the arm or leg, he began, going on to list, in order, a push, a kick or punch, CS spray, or handcuffs. As Tomlinson's family bristled, he finally gave the option of a vocal request.’[2]

I was reminded of an old Not the Nine O Clock News sketch concerning one PC Savage, played I think by Gryff Rhys Jones, whose racism and violence was so apparent to his sergeant that he was advised that he had no place policing the streets, he belonged in a public order unit! In those days this was the infamous SPG, who killed Blair Peach an Australian teacher at an Anti Nazi League rally. Thus it was with Harwood, a walking case of GBH waiting to happen.[3]
 The police attract recruits for a variety of reasons, the majority  I am sure for very good reasons, a desire to do a worthwhile job protecting the public, good terms and conditions, a decent pension, the buzz of engaging with a degree of danger, of catching the ‘bad guys.’. However it is an open secret that some join purely for the power it bestows, power to control others, particularly those whom they regard as anti-social or merely ‘unpleasantly’ different; however the main attraction is the possibility of engaging in a good old ruck, licenced to give someone, who obviously deserves it, a good hiding.  Mr Harwood it would seem falls into this category.
You saw them at their worst during the miners strike, when I was often reminded of Orwell’s reflection, ‘….when I see a worker engaged in fighting his natural enemy, the policeman, I know in an instant were I stand.’[4]
So watching this anti-social thug leave the court yesterday I wondered who was supposed to protect us against a thug like this?


* Who will guard the guards themselves?"







[1] Guardian 20/07/12
[2] Ibid
[3] Harwood had form, facing investigation for a road rage incident he resigned from the Met, only to re-emerge later in another force where a string of complaints were made against him alleging violence against members of the public.
[4] Quoted from memory




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