Harwood to be charged with Tomlinson's death

Today there was a news announcement in respect of the homicide of Ian Tomlinson.  Tomlinson was one of those unlucky people who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, this was the G20 demonstration on the 01 April 2009.  He was attacked by a police officer (PC Simon Harwood) and this resulted in Tomlinson's death.  It has now been stated Simon Harwood will be facing prosecution.

The circumstances around Tomlinson's death were always suspicious.  It didn't take long for video evidence to surface, evidence which the Police authorities already had available, which showed Harwood attack Tomlinson whilst Tomlinson was walking by, with his back to Harwood.  This by the way was made available by an American who had been in London at the time, not the police.  At the time it seemed unbelievable the authorities had not taken action against Harwood.  Their justification of this was the original pathologist reported it was natural causes which caused the death.  Tomlinson was an alcoholic, but in the videos he was certainly anything but aggressive, he could of been out strolling in a park although clearly intoxicated.  Another inquest was held into Tomlinon's death and two separate pathologists agreed it was not by natural causes but internal bleeding he died.  The Police Complaints Authority did nothing.  In silent agreement not to investigate their own one might think.  Any normal authority would have considered an innocent person who had been attacked from behind and then died is worthy of some kind of investigation, even if it happened to be the use of unreasonable force and therefore assault.  It was only the continued pursuit of this matter by the family of Tomlinson which ensured his death was not covered up.

It is sad the police authorities have waited so long, when to the rest of the world, easily accessible video evidence suggests a serious breach of confidence in that authority.  You can not help but wonder were it not for the family of Tomlinson the police would of done absolutely nothing and of been satisfied of the outcome.  In many respects Harwood is now only one of a number of individuals who have allowed a miscarriage of justice to nearly succeed.  He may have been the criminal, however those who supported and continued to allow this injustice to pass now two years later should also be investigated. 

The Met Police were once described as "institutionally racist," this event suggests they are self protective and have an authoritative hubris a blind man could see.
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Lib Dems AV vote will be a no brainer

It is a sad and sorrowful fact, the first real change of the voting system which means so much to so many people is highly likely to fail.  This is all down to the Lib Dems image and decision to form a coalition with the Tories.  When the vote takes place next week, the electorate will make the decision on what they perceive is the salient factor, not the notion of AV at all.  The factor is Lib Democrats and can the be trusted.  The answer intuitively seems to be "no" but don't quote me on this, it's just a feeling I get.  The alternative voting system would of challenged all elected parties to really get their act together.  But we'll see, for I believe one act will not be seen in power again for at least another 70 years, and I don't have to tell you who that is.