An investigation is under way after a case collapsed against a demonstrator when footage emerged of a police officer appearing to punch him in the face.
Alan Clough, 63, from Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, was accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour as anti-fascist campaigners from the UAF (Unite Against Fascism) demonstrated against an English Defence League (EDL) rally in Bolton in March.
But the case against Mr Clough, due to be heard at Bolton Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, was dropped 24 hours before it got to court after Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) viewed the footage.
It was shot by Granada TV and shows police in yellow high-visibility jackets pushing back crowds of protesters before a skirmish breaks out, with riot police and mounted officers involved. Batons are drawn by police and Mr Clough appears to be punched by an officer in riot gear lashing out at demonstrators, before he is dragged away and arrested.
Justice4bolton, a campaign group which claimed police used heavy-handed tactics on the day, say they have received numerous reports of violent police behaviour during the demonstration.
A spokesman for the CPS said: "Having viewed footage received from the defence team, we felt that there was no longer a realistic prospect of securing a conviction. Given this, the correct decision was to drop the charge against Mr Clough. It would be inappropriate for us to comment at this stage in respect of any action that may be taken against the officers involved in this incident."
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police, said: "GMP has received a complaint in relation to footage which appears to show a man being inappropriately struck during his arrest at the EDL protest in Bolton in March, 2010. The footage is now being viewed by officers from Greater Manchester Police's professional standards branch. An internal investigation is now under way, as a result it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage."
Around 2,000 members of the right-wing EDL gathered alongside 1,500 UAF protesters at Victoria Square in Bolton town centre on March 20.
Mr Clough went to the demonstration with four men and three women, aged between 58 and 70, whom he knows from anti-fascist and peace movements in Bury.
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A spokeswoman for justice4bolton added: "The latest footage must be seen against the background of an overwhelming number of reports already received by justice4bolton describing violent and oppressive behaviour on the part of the police on March 20, 2010. The emerging body of evidence raises serious questions not only about the acts of individual officers but about the broader approach taken by the police toward those seeking to stand up against racism and fascism."
