PC Simon Harwood handed 'maximum penalty'

A police officer cleared of killing Ian Tomlinson at London's G20 protests has been sacked with immediate effect after being found guilty of gross misconduct.

PC Simon Harwood was found guilty of breaching standards by a Metropolitan police disciplinary panel.

But the panel decided it will not consider whether or not the officer's actions caused or contributed to Mr Tomlinson's death in 2009.

Assistant Deputy Commissioner Maxine de Brunner said the actions of PC Harwood "fell well below" the usual standards of behaviour for Metropolitan Police public order officers.

Speaking after the hearing, she also said that the panel had invoked the "maximum penalty" available.