'Plebgate': Mitchell complains to IPCC over police conduct

31 March 2013 Last updated at 00:42 GMT

Mitchell complains to IPCC over Met

Andrew Mitchell lodges a complaint against the Met Police and accuses it of acting dishonestly over the incident that led to him quitting as cabinet minister.

• Mitchell blasts 'plebgate' media
• Police officer held over 'plebgate'
  31 March 2013

  
  

  Andrew Mitchell is suing the Sun over its story of his row with police in Downing Street

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  • Mitchell to sue Sun over 'plebgate'
  • Mitchell blasts 'plebgate' media
  • Police officer held over 'plebgate'

  Ex-cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell has written to the Independent Police Complaints Commission about a Metropolitan Police investigation into the 'plebgate' row.

  He told the BBC's Chris Mason that he has officially accused the force of leaking the contents of its own report.
  His letter accuses the police of a "dishonest and illicit attempt to blacken my name and destroy my career".
  The Met Police said its inquiries into the matter were continuing.
  Mr Mitchell has repeatedly denied claims, first reported in the Sun, that he swore and called police officers plebs but he later resigned as chief whip.
  He is suing the Sun over those claims.
  A spokesman for the Sun newspaper said: "We stand by our story and will defend this claim vigorously."
  Earlier, police investigating the incident said they had passed evidence to prosecutors.
  Asked about Mr Mitchell's complaint to the IPCC, a Met Police spokesman said "our inquiries continue".
  He added that the Met had "sent a report to the Crown Prosecution Service on Thursday as part of our investigation and a copy of this file was also sent to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, as they are supervising our investigation".
  

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  Plebgate timeline

  • 19 September - Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell allegedly calls police officers "plebs" during argument in Downing Street
  • 20 September - The story is revealed in the Sun
  • 21 September - Mr Mitchell denies using word "plebs" but apologises for being disrespectful to police
  • 17 October - Labour leader Ed Miliband says Mr Mitchell is "toast", as poor media coverage continues
  • 19 October - Mr Mitchell resigns
  • 15 December - Police officer arrested on suspicion of misconduct
  • 18 December - CCTV coverage casts doubt on police officers' version of events
  • 19 December - 23-year-old man arrested
  • 31 January 2013 - 46-year-old male police officer arrested
  • 1 February 2013 - 46-year-old female police officer arrested

  So far four people - including three police officers - have been arrested as part of the investigation into the incident, which happened in September last year.

  CCTV footage Initial reports had said that the former Conservative cabinet minister lost his temper and allegedly swore at police when they refused to open the gates for him as he cycled out.
  Mr Mitchell admitted there was an exchange and resigned from the cabinet - but denied directly swearing at any officers and denied using the word "pleb".
  CCTV footage of the incident later cast doubt on the police reports.
  Those arrested in relation to the incident include:
  

  • A 52-year-old from the Diplomatic Protection Group who was held on 15 December on suspicion of misconduct in public office and bailed until April
  • Two 46-year-olds from the same command were held on 31 January and 1 February for allegedly passing information to the media and were bailed until May
  • A 23-year-old man who does not work for the police was also arrested and bailed until May

  All three police officers remain suspended.
  COPY  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/