Brutal male cop hits G20 woman in the face

Shocking new footage from the G20 protests shows a policeman apparently hitting a woman with a truncheon.

The footage, which was uploaded on to the YouTube video-sharing website, shows the officer apparently striking the female protester with his hand then a baton following a stand-off during the violent demonstrations in the City of London on April 1.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is already investigating police conduct after 47-year-old Ian Tomlinson died after getting caught up in the anti-capitalist protests.

The new film shows police using the controversial "kettling" technique - forcing the crowd into a small area and forcing people back when they try to leave.

The footage then shows a policeman in a confrontation with a woman. He is seen striking her and when she tells him: "I'm a woman", he replies: "Go away."

Mr Tomlinson collapsed and died after apparently being hit and shoved to the ground by police.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the matter raised "immediate concerns".

He said: "Once we were notified of this footage by a media agency this afternoon, we began to take steps to identify this officer and are currently in the process of referring the incident to the IPCC.

"Every officer is accountable under law, and fully aware of the scrutiny that their actions can be held open to. The decision to use force is made by the individual police officer, and they must account for that."

Charlotte Phillips, of the IPCC, said: "The IPCC has been made aware that the Metropolitan Police Service will be referring an incident to us following footage which has come to light this afternoon.

"As soon as we get the referral, we will look into it and decide the best way to progress an investigation into the actions of the officer involved."