Decision Tomorrow On Tomlinson Charges

Finally, 478 days after Ian Tomlinson's death during the anti-G20 protests around the Bank of England in April 2009, the Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer will finally announce whether any police officer will face criminal charges. He had early promised to reach a decsion by December 2009.

The continuing delay suggests that that when the Tomlinson family are finally informed of Starmer's verdict in the morning, the news will not be good. Rather than a charge of manslaughter, the likelihood is that, at best, we can expect either assault or 'misconduct in public office', although no charges are also very possible. Anything less than the most serious charge will continue the long tradition of treating the police with kid gloves in circumstances where other professions, or members of the public, would face a far more vigorous response from the state.

Tomorrow is also the fifth anniversary of the killing of Jean Charles de Menezes, the young Brazilian gunned down by supposedly 'elite' firearms officers at Stockwell station. They too were never forced to account before a jury for the life they took away. Despite the thousands of deaths in police custody over the years, charges are seldom brought and no British police officer has ever been convicted for manslaughter.

A call has been made for anyone in London who wants to show their support for Ian Tomlinson's family to use their lunch break to head over to Westminster and the Metropolitan Police headquarters at New Scotland Yard for 1pm. It's on Broadway, London SW1H 0BG [nearest tube: St James Park | Map]

Whatever happens, the struggle for justice continues.