Police action at riot to be investigated

THE POLICE Complaints Authority is to supervise an investigation into a series of alleged assaults by police on demonstrators following Sunday's riot against the Criminal Justice Bill, writes Danny Penman.

The investigation will be carried out by the Complaints Investigation Bureau of the Metropolitan Police.

John Cartwright, the authority's deputy chairman (investigations), said: 'In view of the level of public interest in the events of Sunday evening, the authority believes that the inquiry must be subject to independent supervision.'

Richard Offer, spokesman for the authority, said 11 complaints had been received by last night. He added: 'Every effort will be made to obtain as much evidence as possible.'

Richard Howe, spokesman for the Coalition Against the Criminal Justice Bill, said he had advised six people on complaints procedures.

However, Jim Nicholl, a solicitor representing 13 people arrested during the riot, is advising people not to use the authority's complaints procedure. He said: 'It's no good having the police investigating the police. We are advising people to take out civil actions.'