British police wheelchair attack lawful – inquiry

UK police officers were justified in pulling a protester from his wheelchair and “inadvertently” hitting him with a baton at the student fees demonstrations, an inquiry has found.

The actions of officers surrounding Jody McIntyre were “justifiable and lawful given the volatile and dangerous situation” on December 9, Scotland Yard’s Directorate of Professional Standards said.

A statement from the force said: “The investigation, supervised by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), did not find evidence to substantiate any of the complaints made by Jody McIntyre regarding two separate incidents at the demonstrations.”

Mr McIntyre, 21, said he was the victim of unprovoked action by police after video footage of the incident came to light.

He complained that an officer tipped him out of his wheelchair on to the ground, then dragged him across the road on to the pavement. Mr McIntyre also said the treatment amounted to discrimination on the basis of his disability.

But an inquiry said officers acted lawfully amid the violent disorder on the day, concluding: “Whilst there is evidence that Jody McIntyre was inadvertently struck with a police baton, the investigation found that the actions of officers were justifiable and lawful given the volatile and dangerous situation occurring at the location and his removal from his wheelchair was also justifiable given the officers’ perceived risk to Jody McIntyre.”