Evidence of police violence sent to IPCC

Monday, 22 June 2009 11:39 AM

By Ian Dunt

A video showing police violently arresting two women who asked for their badge numbers has been sent to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).

The Guardian newspaper has obtained police footage of the arrest, which relates to a protest last year at the Kingsnorth climate camp, and sent it on to the police watchdog.

Video of the arrest of Emily Apple and Val Swain

The footage shows officers standing on the women's feet, holding one of their heads by the neck, a grip on pressure points around the neck and the tying-up one of one protestor.

The series of events were allegedly triggered when one of the women - who act as Fit Watch volunteers challenging police surveillance at protests - asked four policemen to reveal their badge numbers.

When the officers refused, the woman asked her friend to take photographs of them, saying: "I'd like a picture of this officer so I can make a complaint. It's West Yorkshire police - no number."

Moments later the two women - Emily Apple and Val Swain - are bundled to the ground and arrested after being placed in stress positions.

Ms Swain is put in a restraint belt while Ms Apple has her head forcibly raised by the neck. The women - both single mothers with young children - were detained for four days.

The video will add to a mountain of pressure on the police who are facing an unprecedented level of scrutiny since the G20 demonstrations earlier in the year.

Particular attention has been paid to the practise of covering up badge numbers - which prompted the events in today's video.

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