I FEEL sorry for the family of London paper seller Ian Tomlinson who died during last year’s G20 protests after a police officer was caught on camera striking him with his baton and pushing him to the ground.

They seem to have come up against a brick wall of a system following the decision not to prosecute PC Simon Harwood; a system that seems to filter through the police force, its investigators, the medical and legal professions and on through the media; a system that earlier this month had pulled out all the stops to trap and bring a killer to justice, but which last week let one of its own walk free in an apparent blatant injustice.

Friday’s newspapers, including The Northern Echo, mainly favoured a large photo of the BNP leader rather than highlight this disturbing case on their front pages. Is a party invite story more newsworthy than evidence of collusion in the justice system?

Even last Thursday’s BBC Question Time saved the Ian Tomlinson question until the end, a slot usually reserved for the “joke” question, leaving little time to discuss what was the day’s most important issue.

I fear David Cameron was right when he described a “broken Britain”. In this case, the cracks are there for all to see.

Name Supplied, Darlington.