Police officer accused of baton strike on student protester cleared of gross misconduct

A police officer has been cleared of gross misconduct over a baton strike nine years ago which nearly killed a student during the 2010 demonstrations against tuition fees.

An independent panel ruled that PC Mark Alston, from City of London police, was not the officer who struck Alfie Meadows over the head which resulted in emergency brain surgery.

Here’s our senior Home Affairs Correspondent Simon Israel – his report contains flash photography throughout.