Release report on Kiwi’s death – UK MPs

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A secret police report into the killing of former Napier teacher Blair Peach in an anti-fascist rally in London 30 years ago must be published to prevent further deaths during demonstrations, a parliamentary committee said.

The influential House of Commons joint committee on human rights (JCHR) has joined calls from campaigners and the Metropolitan Police Authority for the publication of the long-suppressed report on the death of Mr Peach in Southall in 1979.

The committee also raised serious concerns about the Met Police's use of "kettling" tactics during the G20 protests on April 1 this year, during which newspaper vendor Ian Tomlinson died.

Andrew Dismore, MP, who chairs the committee, called for the full report into the death of Mr Peach to be made public.

The special needs teacher was killed by a blow to the head from a police baton in 1979 while attempting to leave a demonstration.

Despite an inquest finding that at least one member of the Met's now-disbanded Special Patrol Group had attacked Mr Peach, nobody has been prosecuted.

The anti-fascist protester's partner, Celia Stubbs, has backed calls for the release of a secret report into the death by John Cass, the commander who ran the complaints bureau.

Mr Cass, 84, recently approved the disclosure which would reveal the identities of officers he considered suspects.

Mr Dismore said: "Today's Metropolitan Police Service has nothing to fear from a report on events 30 years ago, which would give perspective on the development of police strategy and might help restore the confidence that has been damaged."

The parliamentary committee wrote to Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson on June 9, urging documents from the internal police inquiry into Mr Peach's death be released.

The Guardian newspaper has reported a former Scotland Yard inspector whose officers were allegedly implicated in the wake of Mr Peach's death has said the New Zealander was either unlawfully killed or murdered, but he did not believe his men were responsible.

Alan Murray, then a 29-year-old inspector, headed the Metropolitan police's riot squad, the Special Patrol Group, and resigned shortly after the death.

He is now a lecturer in corporate responsibility at Sheffield University, and the Guardian reported he denied killing Peach, and said that he did not believe anyone in his unit was responsible.

Now 59, Mr Murray claimed the Met's investigation – which focused on the six SPG officers near Mr Peach when he collapsed – was flawed.

"I resigned because of the way the investigation was conducted," he said. "It is a matter of abiding regret that Blair Peach was killed that day."

Asked what caused Mr Peach's death, he told the Guardian: "Blair Peach was either murdered or unlawfully killed – there is no doubt in my mind." The verdict of death by misadventure at Mr Peach's inquest, he said, was "inappropriate".

Eleven witnesses said at the time they saw police officers attack Mr Peach, and a pathologist's report said the injury to his skull was likely to have been caused by a lead weighted rubber cosh or hosepipe filled with lead shot.

When Mr Cass raided lockers at the SPG headquarters, he uncovered a stash of unauthorised weapons, including a metal cosh, but it was not the weapon that killed Mr Peach.

Mr Murray said Mr Peach's death had affected his life, and it was "no coincidence" that his academic focus became ethics.

"There has hardly been a day gone by since when it hasn't crossed my mind."

- NZPA