The Met's current commissioner and the man he succeeded are on trial today over injuries to one policeman and the death of another.
Sir John Stevens and his predecessor Lord Paul Condon are accused by the Health and Safety Executive of failing in their duty to protect the London constables from harm.
PC Kulwant Sidhu was fatally injured when he fell through a warehouse roof in October 1999. He was just 24 years old and had been working for the Twickenham Division for four years.
PC Mark Berwick sustained serious injuries when he fell through a roof at Gresham Road, Willesden, in May 2000.
At PC Sidhu's funeral, the then Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Condon led a sombre procession made up of hundreds of PC Sidhu's colleagues and friends within the force.
The Health and Safety Executive is to prosecute Sir John and Lord Condon for breaches of section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Both men denied the charges when the trial started at the Old Bailey today.
April 30, 2003 17:00
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