Anti-Nazi League says it will sue police chief

THE Anti-Nazi League yesterday declared it was preparing to issue civil writs for damages alleging assault and battery against Paul Condon, Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

The announcement follows last Saturday's violent scenes when an anti-racist demonstration flared up on the streets of Welling in south-east London.

Sixty people, including 19 police officers, were injured when some of the 15,000-plus protesters tried to reach the bookshop headquarters of the British National Party.

Over the course of Sunday the Anti-Nazi League, which co-ordinated the rally in conjunction with Youth Against Racism in Europe, says it has been contacted by demonstrators alleging they were 'indiscriminately and randomly beaten and assaulted by riot police officers'.

Julie Waterson, the league's chief steward, said she would be taking civil action after allegedly being hit with a truncheon by police while appealing for calm. She needed seven stitches to her wound. Ms Waterson said: 'Approximately six writs will be served as soon as our solicitor has collated all the evidence and studied the photographs we have got.'

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: 'We will vigorously contest any such writs.'

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