Riot police 'acted lawfully'

Mr Malik suffered facial injuries in the incident during the Burnley riots

An inquiry in to allegations a man was the victim of an unprovoked police assault during rioting has ruled there is insufficient evidence to back the claim.

The decision by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) was reached after what it described as a "very detailed inquiry" was undertaken into Shahid Malik's allegations.

Mr Malik, the son of a former mayor of Burnley, made complaints about an officer's conduct after he suffered facial injuries in the town in June 2001.

However, the PCA inquiry ruled on Monday the officer involved had acted because he feared for his own safety.

In February the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) decided police officers involved in the incident in June 2001 would not face any criminal charges.

'Close supervision'

Mr Malik, a member of the Labour Party's National Executive Committee, was arrested after the incident, but later cleared of any wrong-doing.

On Monday the PCA's deputy chairman Wendy Towers said she was satisfied the inquiry had reached the right decision.

"A very detailed inquiry was carried out by Lancashire Constabulary under our close supervision," she said.

After the CPS decision in February, Mr Malik said action should have been taken against the officers involved.

He said: "It's almost beyond belief that no action is being taken when there are so many witnesses."

'Lawfully detained'

He also complained an officer used excessive force in striking him with a baton and that he was allegedly falsely arrested and insulted while in custody.

However, the PCA decided video evidence of the initial incident did not back Mr Malik's claims.

"The video evidence appears to show the officer pulling his shield upwards and backwards and it is not clear whether this was as a result of him lifting the shield to pull it from Mr Malik's hands, or in order to strike him, or to push him as he came up a slope," it said in a statement.

It also said the decision to arrest Mr Malik was in accordance with Lancashire Police policy and there was insufficient evidence to show he was "unlawfully detained".