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27/04/2010
Police Release Blair Peach Report
Police are set to release the previously secret report into the death of a anti-racism activist that took place over three decades ago.
Blair Peach, 33, was hit over the head at a demonstration against the National Front in Southall, west London, in 1979.
Members of the Met's riot squad, called the Special Patrol Group, were suspected of hitting him with a rubberised police radio or a lead-filled cosh.
The decision follows years of campaigning by Mr Peach's family to obtain the secret internal review of his killing.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has said he is willing to publish the document, but only after it has been checked by solicitors.
Public pressure after the death of Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests, led to the decision to release the Blair Peach report.
However, solicitors for the police advised prosecutors to look at it in case there is a chance further inquiries could be made and charges brought.
Mr Peach's partner Celia Stubbs, has already received a copy of the report, which was reportedly handed over to her solicitors.
Eleven witnesses told his inquest that police officers were responsible for the teacher's death.
At the time, charges were ruled out after prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to take a case to trial and the force later reached an out-of-court settlement with Mr Peach's family.
Sources close to the family who have seen the report say it vindicates their view that Mr Peach was hit by one of six officers from a unit of the now disbanded Special Patrol Group.
It is understood that the report identifies the members of that unit, but detectives who investigated the death could not establish which officer struck Mr Peach.
The names of the officers and other witnesses have been edited from the document ahead of its publication.
(LB/GK)
Blair Peach, 33, was hit over the head at a demonstration against the National Front in Southall, west London, in 1979.
Members of the Met's riot squad, called the Special Patrol Group, were suspected of hitting him with a rubberised police radio or a lead-filled cosh.
The decision follows years of campaigning by Mr Peach's family to obtain the secret internal review of his killing.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson has said he is willing to publish the document, but only after it has been checked by solicitors.
Public pressure after the death of Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests, led to the decision to release the Blair Peach report.
However, solicitors for the police advised prosecutors to look at it in case there is a chance further inquiries could be made and charges brought.
Mr Peach's partner Celia Stubbs, has already received a copy of the report, which was reportedly handed over to her solicitors.
Eleven witnesses told his inquest that police officers were responsible for the teacher's death.
At the time, charges were ruled out after prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to take a case to trial and the force later reached an out-of-court settlement with Mr Peach's family.
Sources close to the family who have seen the report say it vindicates their view that Mr Peach was hit by one of six officers from a unit of the now disbanded Special Patrol Group.
It is understood that the report identifies the members of that unit, but detectives who investigated the death could not establish which officer struck Mr Peach.
The names of the officers and other witnesses have been edited from the document ahead of its publication.
(LB/GK)
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