Pool protester faces assault charges

There were violent scenes as the pool was closed

A policewoman has told a court that she was elbowed and kicked by a teenage protester during disturbances at a swimming pool last year.

Quasim Khan, 16, denied eight charges including the assault of police officers, breach of the peace and racial abuse at last year's protest at Govanhill Baths, on the south side of Glasgow.

The charges relate to 7 August 2001 when a demonstration against the closure of the pool erupted into violence scenes.

Six police officers were injured in the clashes after sheriff's officers evicted some 20 protesters who had been occupying the building for five months.

Protesters launched a five month campaign

Video footage of the protest was replayed during the first day of a trial without jury at Glasgow Sheriff Court.

Giving evidence, Strathclyde Police Constable Lynn McLaren, 30, alleged that Quasim, of Govanhill, had pushed his elbow into her face three to four times and had also kicked her on her leg.

Under cross-examination by Aamer Anwar, defending Quasim, the police officer repeatedly denied she had kicked or punched the teenager.

She said she used only the palms of her hands to push protesters back as they tried to break through police lines and get inside the pool building.

Water pistol

PC McLaren denied the defence lawyer's assertion that Mr Khan was being beaten up by the police, and that only stopped when camera crews arrived.

The court also heard from Sergeant Robert Campbell that he was one of a number of police officers squirted in the face with urine by Mr Khan using a high powered water pistol.

When questioned as to why his uniform had not been produced in evidence , Sgt Campbell said his and the uniforms of all his colleagues on duty that night had been incinerated on health and safety grounds.

The trial continues