Campaigners: Release files on death of Blair Peach

CRUCIAL documents about the killing of an anti-fascist protester 30 years ago must be made public by the Home Office, campaigners demanded today.

Blair Peach was killed by a blow to the head from a police baton on 23 April 1979, while attempting to leave a demonstration in Southall.

Despite an inquest finding that at least one member of the Metropolitan Police's now disbanded Special Patrol Group had attacked Mr Peach, nobody was ever brought to justice.

Friends of the New Zealand-born special needs teacher said today that the row into public order policing triggered by the death of Ian Tomlinson at the G20 protests had given them fresh hope that an internal investigation by the police into the killing will be made public. They have written an open letter to the Home Secretary and Metropolitan Police Commissioner calling for the release of the report written by Commander John Cass, then head of Scotland Yard's Complaints Investigation Bureau.

Friends of Blair Peach spokesman Terry Fitzpatrick said: "It's a disgrace that the Cass report has not been made public. It has been 30 years. Surely the Cass report must be made public now - and if not we want to know why."