British police killed man then covered it up

A Metropolitan Police riot squad officer killed the anti-fascist campaigner Blair Peach at a demonstration and fellow officers lied to cover it up, a report kept secret for 31 years revealed yesterday.

The report said that there was insufficient evidence to charge anyone over the killing but recommended that three officers be charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice or consipiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The Crown Prosecution Service said yesterday that it was unlikely that new scientific, witness or confession evidence would emerge to allow them to reconsider bringing a prosecution.

Mr Peach, a 33-year-old New Zealand-born teacher, died after he was hit over the head at a demonstration against the National Front in Southall, West London, during the 1979 general election campaign. It is thought that he was hit with a police radio or a cosh.

His family and partner have long campaigned for the report, written by Commander John Cass, to be released. Mr Peach’s partner, Celia Stubbs, 68, said: “I feel we have really been vindicated because we have always said that Blair had been killed by a policeman. I never thought we would get this.”

She questioned whether lessons had been learnt by the force after the death of Ian Tomlinson, who was shoved to the ground by a riot squad officer during G20 protests last year.

The report by Commander Cass, a senior officer in the Metropolitan Police at the time, referred to a particular police vehicle and said that it was “almost certain” that an officer from that vehicle struck the fatal blow.

He concluded that three officers, identified as E, H and F, had lied to cover up the truth. They were members of an elite riot squad known as the Special Patrol Group. “It is understandable that officers were confused, or made mistakes, but one would expect better recall of events by trained police officers. However, there are cases where the evidence shows that certain officers have clearly not told the truth.”

Commander Cass added: “I strongly recommend that proceedings be taken against Officer E, Officer H and Officer F for obstructing police in the execution of their duty, conspiring to do so, and attempting or conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.”

Sir Thomas Hetherington, the Director of Public Prosecutions at the time, decided that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone. No one was disciplined by the Metropolitan Police. All of the officers left the force after the investigation was concluded, the police said.

An inquest returned a verdict of misadventure. Fourteen witnesses reported seeing Mr Peach being hit by a police officer. Several officers were put on ID parades but none was picked out.

Sir Paul Stephenson, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said yesterday: “I have to say it’s a matter of deep regret, and I have to say, really, that I’m sorry that over 31 years since Blair Peach’s death we’ve been unable to provide his family and friends with a definitive answer regarding the terrible circumstances that he met his death.

“I’ve personally written to Blair Peach’s brothers and his partner to express this to them. It might be 31 years ago but I also have to say that the material published today makes for some uncomfortable reading.”

Original report here



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