Compensation for injured photographer

A Journalist has received personal injury compensation after he was assaulted last year at the G20 protests.

Photographer, David Hoffman, was covering the event professionally when he was attacked by a Police Officer in riot gear.

The incident at the anti-capitalist protests in London on April 1 last year saw Mr Hoffman lose several teeth after a Territorial Support Group Officer smashed his riot shield into the Photojournalist. The blow was so severe that Mr Hoffman fractured the roots of two teeth, damaged a third and lost five molars from his lower jaw.

Several hours after the attack on Mr Hoffman, newspaper seller, Ian Tomlinson, died after being knocked to the ground in a similar unprovoked attack by an officer.

Mr Hoffman's claim against the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) was finalised out of court with the claimant being awarded around £30,000.

General Secretary of the National Union of Journalists, Jeremy Dear said: "David's case is a shocking example of police brutality and totally unacceptable."

The Metropolitan Police apologised for the incident. A statement read: "On 1 April 2009 well-respected social issues photographer David Hoffman was recording the G20 protests in the City of London.

"The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) recognise that Mr Hoffman was entitled to report on that day but was caused injury by an MPS officer during the event, preventing him from doing so.

"The MPS confirms its recognition that freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy and that Journalists have a right to report freely. The MPS apologise to Mr Hoffman for the treatment he received and have paid compensation."