Met reach settlement with man struck by baton during protest
Alfie Meadows suffered a brain injury after being hit whilst protesting against tuition fee hikes in 2010
The Metropolitan Police have apologised to, and agreed a settlement with, a man who suffered a brain injury after being hit by a police baton during protests a decade ago.
Alfie Meadows, who was 20 years old at the time, was struck by police whilst demonstrating against tuition fees hikes in 2010.
He was acquitted of violent disorder in March 2022, and the Met decided in June to settle civil action launched by Mr Meadows in August 2020.
The size of the settlement has not been disclosed, but it's believed to run into six figures.
The Metropolitan Police said on Friday that "the use of force against him was unjustified", and that Mr Meadows was "protesting peacefully."
They added that they regret being unable to identify the officer who hit him, despite criminal proceedings and an independent investigation that resulted in a misconduct hearing.
They added body-worn cameras and improved self-defence training had been introduced since 2010 to prevent a future incident.
Speaking to Channel 4 News on Friday, Mr Meadows said he doesn't think the settlement "will make up for the pain I suffered at the time and the serious impact it has had on my life and my mental health over the last decade."
"It felt like a process that was never going to end. It felt like I was on trial the whole time, that I was being punished for the crime of surviving this police assault," he added.