I deliberately refrained from commenting on the G20 accusations against the Police. I didn't want to become an 'arm chair general'. I have no experience of policing public order situations (although I was trained in it in my previous job), so didn't think it was my place to comment. However, the unfair bias being portrayed in the media and the sheer self-righteous idiocy of some of the commentators really has just wound me up to snapping point. Especially this story.

Feared for her life??!! Then why charge at an officer with his baton drawn after being told to back off?

First off, why were the 'protesters' there? They were holding a vigil for Mr Tomlinson who died after (not necessarily because of) being pushed by a police constable. Did they know him? Were they personal friends in mourning? Or were they anti-establishment 'activists' desperate for a cause and an excuse to 'rub it in'? Anyone with a grudge against the police (usually people who've found themselves on the wrong side of the law) would have been drawn like a magnet to this vigil.

Here's the video, let's break it down:

0 - 14s : The Police NOT assaulting anybody. The crowd is peaceful and therefore so are the officers. No batons drawn, no helmets or shields. One chap tries to get through the cordon, he's stopped and turned away without using force.

15s: A protester is pushed by Police. We don't see why he's pushed so I won't try to justify it. However, I will say that, contrary to public opinion, constables are allowed to use reasonable force for a myriad of reasons other than self defence.

18s: The same protester then picks something up and moves towards the police, shouting. Why? He can speak to them and shout at them from where he was. Why does he want to move to within arms reach?

20s: Second push against this protester, which is certainly justifiable. The officer doesn't 'beat him up', doesn't resort to his 'weapons', just a push to stop an unpredictable, aggressive male from getting within arms reach.

Notice that the mood of the crowd changes in response to this. Jeering and shouting. The officers are horrendously out numbered and surrounded.

24s: In response to the change of mood of the crowd, the sergeant at the centre of this allegation then starts to move people back. It looks like he pushes someone off camera. The sergeant says "Keep back", "Move back". Suddenly the 'aggrieved' appears shouting, swearing and pointing at the sergeant. It appears she may have already received a push from the sergeant off camera and she objects because she's a woman and is therefore not allowed to be pushed by a man.

26s: The sergeant pushes the 'aggrieved' to keep her at bay. He says "Move back" again.

30s: This woman then charges back into shot while the sergeant is moving someone else back. Watch her shoulder and the sergeants reaction at 30 seconds. Does she hit him on the back? It's obscured by her head, but it does look like it. Even if she doesn't hit him, the back hand 'slap' is in response to her charging at him. The sergeant then forcefully says "Go away".

31s: The sergeant is forcefully pushed on his shoulder by someone off camera. Some reports made an issue of his size, well this push forces him to spin, despite his size. People are now able to reach the sergeant from out of his field of view. In response to this he adopts a defensive posture and backs off so no-one is behind him.

33s: Again he says "Get back, now".

35s: The 'aggrieved' then moves forwards into the safe space the sergeant has created between him and the crowd. She's got her arm raised and is holding something. The sergeant is now reaching for his baton. Other officers are shouting "get back".

38s: The sergeant strikes her once on the leg with his batton.

No-one else is hit. The sergeant doesn't go on a rampage. No-one else tries to get close to him or pose a threat to him so he doesn't use force on anyone else. And yes a woman can pose a threat to man, regardless of size difference.

I count 5 warnings from that sergeant, other officers are shouting as well. She is pushed back twice (if you presume once of camera) and is struck with the back of his hand. Yet she still moves towards him. If she feared for her life why not turn and run? If she wasn't intent on causing trouble or harm why not move back when instructed?

A man died after police contact. An investigation should take place to establish any wrong doing. But why are other stories and complaints like this even being entertained?!

The latest one is a complaint against a police officer for pointing a taser at someone in a raid. Not using it, no force involved, just pointing it. The 'evidence' is here.

Talk about jumping on the band wagon. Maybe a £50,000 newspaper deal has something to do with it. I love the quote from her boyfriend 'Jamie' at the bottom of the article, her first reaction was to get compensation but she was told it wouldn't stand up so... "She might as well get some money from the papers, everyone else does."

Maybe this woman wasn't going to cause trouble or harm the sergeant. Her actions suggest otherwise. Police, without the benefit of some Minority Report pre-crime unit, don't know if the person they're dealing with are going to do this or this or this or this or this or this... (just the first few hits from googling "police injury")

There should be a national debate. Not on police tactics, but what the public want from the police generally. Do they want a pink and fluffy police service, or a force to go toe to toe with criminals?