Long-secret report on Kiwi's slaying at UK rally to be released

London police chief Sir Paul Stephenson has agreed to make public a report into the 1979 death of New Zealander Blair Peach, 33, who was killed as police were dispersing protesters during an anti-fascist protest.

Peach, a teacher and an anti-racist campaigner, died from a blow to the head at a demonstration against the National Front in Southall, west London, in April 1979.

A police commander at the time, John Cass, made an independent investigation and was reported to have recommended the prosecution of officers, but no charges were brought.

Sir Paul agreed yesterday that the report should be made public after a unanimous call to do so by the Metropolitan Police Authority, the Guardian newspaper reported.

The decision was welcomed by Mr Peach's family and partner, although no date has been set for the release.

Celia Stubbs, who was his partner, said: "I'm totally bowled over. I was really cynical about it and I really didn't expect a result like this."

Jenny Jones, a Metropolitan Police Authority member, proposed a motion calling for publication of the full Cass report before the end of the year.

The report has remained secret despite requests for disclosure by Mr Peach's family and friends and an attempt by them last year to get access to it under freedom of information laws.

Ms Jones told a meeting of the authority, chaired by London Mayor Boris Johnson and with Sir Paul in attendance, that the Metropolitan Police had declined to publish the report, suggesting that this was partly for the sake of the family.

"It is embarrassing keeping it secret," she said.

Mr Peach, an activist in the Anti-Nazi League, was reported at the time to have almost certainly been killed by a police officer, his skull crushed with an unauthorised weapon as he tried to walk home from an anti- racism demonstration.

- NZPA