The funeral of anti-racist Blair Peach was attended by over 3,000 mournersScotland Yard has passed a secret internal report into the killing to officials at the Crown Prosecution Service. The decision was made after public pressure to reveal the almost forgotten review in the months after the death of Ian Tomlinson during G20 protests.
Senior officers pencilled in publication for later this month after an appeal by Mr Peach's partner Celia Stubbs. But police solicitors advised prosecutors should look at it in case there is any chance further inquiries could be made and charges brought. One source close to the process said it is unlikely that murder or manslaughter charges will be brought, but officers may face corruption charges.
A shadow has hung over the death of Mr Peach, 33, since he was hit over the head at a demonstration against the National Front in Southall, west London, in 1979. Members of the force's Special Patrol Group were suspected of hitting him with a rubberised police radio or a lead-filled cosh.
A report written by Commander John Cass, a former senior officer at the Met's internal complaints department, examined his death. He is believed to have recommended the prosecution of police officers, although no charges were ever brought.
In June, Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said the report should be published, possibly by the end of the year, with some details censored. He told a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) that a review of the documents would take place to consider whether any censorship was required.
Members of the MPA unanimously supported a decision to review the documents with a view to publishing them before the end of the year.
TalkTalk
This probe is much for important than you think.
ReplyDeleteAlan Murray, who was I understand, in charge should be on your tag line. I knew him when he was running a jewellery business in St. Andrews where I lived.
He was IIRC making various claims about being wronged and hard done by over his resignation and a Channel4 production company took on the challenge but after a day or so of checking the facts they couldn't continue with his version of events.
If my memory serves me correctly, he wasn't where he said he was or where he was supposed to be.
If I remember correctly the observation was ’that it took several days but in the end he broke’
Ultimately this is about Blair Peach, a man, an anti-racist/fascist who has been murdered - even though it was many years ago - those responsible are still alive and in this country!