Jenny Jones, Green Party member of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), today spoke warmly of the outcomes of the MPA's discussion of the Met's handling of the G20 protests.
She said:
"I welcome the creation of the civil liberties panel, and the fact that its first job will be to examine the policing of the G20 protests. The terms of reference for this panel incorporated all the concerns put forward in the two motions that went to the MPA."
"I feel that the London Mayor has listened to the concerns of Londoners and achieved a consensus about the way forward."
Ms Jones, who has been a Green Party member of the London Assembly and the MPA for nine years, continued:
"Part of our examination will cover the areas of major concern, like the level of force used against the peaceful protestors at the climate camp in Bishopsgate."
The Met's report to the police authority refers to organisers of the camp being avowed non-violent demonstrators and the success of the police's containment policy in keeping out violent elements (also known as kettling). Concerns remain that the police have failed to provide any evidence of any violence at the camp. On the contrary, video footage shows only passive resistance, said Ms Jones.
She continued: "I think that the use of riot shields and batons against peaceful protestors was fundamentally wrong and we have to keep on challenging the Met on their use of tactics like riot police, dogs and kettling."
But she welcomed:
Jenny Jones is available for interview, and is our candidate for London Major 2012. For more information on her campaign please visit www.jennyforlondon.org
From Green Party press office, 020 7561 0282.
Published and promoted by Spencer Fitz-Gibbon for the Green Party of England & Wales, both at 1a Waterlow Road, London N19 5NJ