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PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release
Tuesday, June 18th 2013

CAMPAIGN CALLS FOR IPCC TO PUBLISH REPORT ON POLICING OF ANTI FASCIST PROTEST IN BOLTON AS CROWN COURT CASE ENDS IN YORK

Prosecutor describes how protester Alan Clough was “forcefully” punched in the face by GMP inspector who was not charged with assault because of time factor

Second officer is found not guilty of perverting course of justice after CPS offer no evidence

“I was hoping for some justice after three long years but we seem as far away from it as we were in March 2010” - anti fascist protester Alan Clough

Campaigners have called for the immediate publication of an IPCC report into the policing of an anti fascist demonstration in Bolton in March 2010.

The investigation and report into complaints about police action against protesters is complete but had not been published because of two outstanding charges of perverting the course of justice against PC Alan Glover of Greater Manchester Police’s Tactical Aid Unit.

But at York Crown Court yesterday, the Crown Prosecution Service offered no evidence against PC Glover and he was found not guilty. However, Prosecutor Paul Mitchell told the court that TAU Inspector Robert Cantrell, who had a charge of perverting the course of justice dismissed in February this year, was shown in Granada TV film footage “forcefully” punching anti fascist protester Alan Clough in the face. The prosecutor said Cantrell could not be charged with assault because it was outside the time limit of six months.

A spokesperson for justice4bolton said: “Cantrell has only avoided criminal sanction by good luck on his part. The IPCC has finished its investigation into the complaints received about the policing of the Unite Against Fascism protest against the English Defence League in March 2010.

“The report has not yet been published because of the risk that it would prejudice criminal proceedings. There is no reason now not to disclose the report and we expect it to be published immediately.”

At York Crown Court, prosecutor Paul Mitchell said he would be presenting no evidence against PC Alan Glover on two charges of perverting the course of justice because of “enhanced” video evidence which had come to light in the last few days. But he said, in view of the public importance of the case, he would give a detailed account of the reasons for not proceeding.

Describing the demonstration by the English Defence League in Bolton on March 20th 2010 and the counter protest called by Unite Against Fascism, Paul Mitchell said GMP policed the events with ordinary uniformed officers and the Tactical Aid Unit .

Mr Mitchell said officers were pushing anti fascist protesters back into an area designated for them by the police when Alan Clough, “a man in his sixties and of good character”, was arrested by PC Glover under Section 4 of the Public Order Act.

Glover and Insp Cantrell, both of the TAU, made police statements. Glover alleged he had seen Mr Clough lashing out and making contact with Insp Cantrell’s head.

Mr Mitchell said there were many complaints against GMP as a result of the policing that day. Mr Clough consistently denied doing anything wrong, but as a result of Glover’s statement, he was charged and his trial set for 20th October 2010.

The day before the trial, defence solicitors disclosed video evidence from Granada TV, filmed from an elevated position. The video was viewed by the CPS who decided to discontinue the case against Mr Clough.

The prosecutor said the video showed Mr Clough in the front row of the anti fascist protesters, with his arms by his side. Mr Mitchell added that Insp Cantrell was shown “forcefully” punching Mr Clough in the face. He wished to make it clear to the court that there was no evidence of any wrongdoing by Mr Clough and he said the video shows that seconds later, Glover arrived, pulled Mr Clough out of the crowd and arrested him.

There was an investigation by the GMP, managed by the IPCC, which concluded that Glover should be charged as what he had said in his statement, that he saw Cantrell hit by Alan Clough, was not true.

By that time Insp Cantrell could not be charged with assault on Mr Clough as it was out of time - there is a six month limit on bringing a charge of assault. Instead, Cantrell was charged with perverting the course of justice but this was dismissed at York Crown Court in February.

After today’s case, Dr Rhetta Moran, of justice4bolton, said:

“Justice has not been done and neither has it been seen to be done.

“We have to ask a question – why is a case abandoned 48 working hours before a Crown trial is due to begin, on the basis of what is being described as “enhanced footage” that no-one from the public has seen? That is very troubling.”

Dr Moran said the campaign group would be taking action to ensure the enhanced footage was made available to the public.

“They’ve not disclosed the sources of the footage, so they’re asking everybody to believe them without dislcosing the source.

“Justice4bolton expects that enhanced footage to be made available.”

Alan Clough said he was very disappointed with the outcome of the case. “I was hoping for some justice after 3 long years but we seem as far away from it as we were in March 2010.”

Rick Coates, who made the original complaint that led to the exposure of Cantrell’s and Glover’s actions and the decision to prosecute, said: “I am simply appalled that after 3 and a half years I have still not been informed by the IPCC of any outcome of my complaint and that the criminal action against the policeofficers concerned have now been dropped without the people who were the victims of the police on 20^th March 2010 even being formally informed.”

For more information, please contact:

Dr Rhetta Moran 07776264646
Kath Grant 07758386208

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Important Update in Justice4Bolton campaign.

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