PC Simon Harwood will face manslaughter charges over the death of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests in 2009.
PC Harwood will appear at the City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court on June 20 to be formally charged after the director of public prosecutions (DPP), Keir Starmer, reviewed an inquest jury’s verdict of unlawful killing earlier this month.
In a statement he said: “There is now sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of successfully prosecuting PC Simon Harwood for the manslaughter of Mr Tomlinson.”
Tomlinson’s family released a statement saying they were “more than happy” with the decision to charge PC Harwood with manslaughter.
In reaction to the review, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said: “I have got to be very, very concerned at an inquest verdict that returns a verdict of unlawful killing involving, as the inquest did, one of my police officers.”
Tomlinson’s death at the G20 protests became an international controversy after New York businessman Christopher La Jaunie handed footage he had taken of a police confrontation to the Guardian newspaper.
In the footage, PC Harwood is seen striking Tomlinson with a baton and then pushing him to the ground.