Statement on today's disciplinary hearing of PC Simon Harwood

Ian's family attended today's Metropolitan Police disciplinary hearing of PC Simon Harowwd, held in public in west London. Speaking on behalf of the Ian Tomlinson Family Campaign, Ian's son Paul King said:

"We came here expecting a disciplinary hearing. There has been no hearing. We expected the Met to rule on whether it's officer killed Ian. The Met has basically gone 'no comment'.

It's a whitewash. It's like they have just let PC Harwood resign. The conflicting verdicts of the inquest and criminal court still need to be resolved.

We haven't given up, we will now be looking to the civil courts for the final judgement on who killed our dad."

PC Simon Harwood Misconduct Hearing

Metropolitan Police internal disciplinary proceedings to consider whether PC Simon Harwood is guilty of gross misconduct will begin on Monday 17th September and are expected to last for up to four weeks.

The hearings are open but the public need to apply for spaces to attend before Monday 10th September. The link giving information on the hearings and how to apply are here.

Pathologist Freddy Patel struck off

Pathologist Freddy Patel, who carried out the first post-mortem on Ian Tominson has today been struck off for a catalogue of errors after a tribunal earlier this week found him to have been dishonest as well as incompetent.

For the latest news developments see the article in the Guardian today.

Julia Tomlinson said today "We aren't surprised he has been struck off. It is more of a surprise that he was able to work as a pathologist for so long and that he was selected to do the post mortem on Ian. We are pleased that he will not be able to put any more families through the ordeal he caused us, but the damage he has done can't now be undone."

Pathologist Freddy Patel "not fit to practise" - Tomlinson family response

The pathologist who conducted the first post-mortem tests on Ian Tomlinson and concluded he had died of heart problems has been found "not fit to practise" by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service today.

Julia Tomlinson responded today saying "The incompetence and dishonesty of Freddy Patel helped PC Harwood and gave us an uphill battle for justice from the start. He mislead everyone saying that Ian had died of a heart attack when in fact he had died of internal bleeding. It's good that people can see some of the things we have been up against. Patel has a lot to answer for and I would like to know why with all the good pathologists there are he was selected to do the first post mortem"

Tomlinson family respond to Sean Rigg inquest verdict

Julia Tomlinson, widow of Ian Tomlinson, released this statement today on behalf of her family following the verdict at the Sean Rigg inquest:

"My family are relieved for Sean Rigg's family after hearing the jury at his inquest delivered a damning verdict against the police. We know the challenges they will have faced in fighting for justice and hope this outcome will pave the way for stronger accountability of police officers over their use of force."