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Monday 14 March 2011

Interesting!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/14/police-accused-false-arrest-fees

Police accused of false arrest at fees protest

IPCC investigating claims that officer colluded with colleagues to arrest man on false grounds during December protest

Parliament square student demos
Mounted riot police clash with protesters during student demonstrations in Parliament Square in December. Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

A police officer has been accused of colluding with colleagues to arrest a young protester on "false grounds" during a student fees demonstration last year.

The police watchdog said it was investigating the "serious allegation" that an officer abused his position after a 20-year-old breached a police cordon during the high-profile demonstrations in Parliament Square in December.

According to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), the student attended the demonstrations in Parliament Square on Thursday 9 December 2010. He broke through police lines and was chased and caught by an officer.

The police officer was wearing sound-recording equipment, which recorded the chase and detention as well as a subsequent conversation between the officer and a number of colleagues.

The investigation will look at an allegation that the officers conspired to falsely arrest the 20-year-old, as well as how he sustained a chipped tooth.

Three officers have been served with notices advising them they are being investigated for alleged criminal and gross misconduct matters.

Rachel Cerfontyne, commissioner at the IPCC, said: "We are investigating a serious allegation that an officer colluded with colleagues to abuse his position by arresting a young man on false grounds. We will also be looking at the circumstances of how the man suffered a broken tooth during his detention."

Tens of thousands of young people took to the streets in a series of demonstrations at the end of last year to voice their opposition to the government's plans to raise university tuition fees and cut funding for post-16 education.