26th March 2010
Protester’s Trial Dropped After Police Release Evidence of His Innocence
Mark Hanson
After over a year of being accused of violence at a protest, the police release video footage that shows a man’s innocence.
The man, Jake Smith, was protesting outside the Israeli embassy last January, and after the event he was charged with violence during the protest. Police used video footage taken at the protest as evidence against him, but only released the full footage this week, which showed that he was the victim of violence, not the perpetrator.
The delayed release of the full footage has prompted his lawyers to call for an inquiry into the prosecution, as the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that it was dropping the case against him.
In a dreadful development for public trust in the police, the newly released video shows Smith being beaten by police officers. Yet it was Smith who was put on trial for violence.
The delay in police making the footage available meant that Smith had the prospect of imprisonment hanging over him for over a year.
In another example of public video footage holding the police accountable, the full evidence was only released due to Smith finding the footage on Youtube. The alleged assault on Ian Tomlinson during the G20 summit only came to light because of footage taken by a member of the public.
This case highlights that despite many good and well-meaning announcements by the police, there still remains a worrying disregard for the liberties of protesters.
