The Crown Prosecution Service has decided that four police officers, accused of a "serious, gratuitous and prolonged" attack on terror suspect Babar Ahmad in December 2003, are to face criminal charges.
The high court was told last year that Ahmad was punched, stamped on, kicked, and strangled during his arrest by officers from one of the Metropolitan Police's territorial support groups (TSG).
The CPS's decision to prosecute came after an independent review by retired senior judge Sir Geoffrey Grigson into the handling of the case.
Jenny Jones, Green Party member of the Metropolitan Police Authority, said: "We've known for many years that the TSG has needed reform. There have been consistent allegations of unnecessary aggression and brutality. I, for one, am tired of being assured by senior officers that all force has been 'reasonable' only to find out that it hasn't. It's difficult to believe even today that this same situation couldn't happen again. Urgent reform of the TSG is needed."
Jenny Jones is our candidate for London Mayor 2012. For more information on her campaign, please visit www.jennyforlondon.org