A police officer from Carshalton will be charged with manslaughter over the death of G20 protestor Ian Tomlinson.

Britains's top prosecutor announced today there were grounds for PC Simon Harwood to face a trial after reviewing an inquest jury's unlawful killing verdict.

Jurors at the inquest into Mr Tomlinson's death ruled PC Harwood, a member of the Met's territorial support group, used "excessive and unreasonable" force in shoving Mr Tomlinson to the ground during the protests on April 1, 2009.

It ruled on Tuesday, May 3, the 47-year-old's death minutes later on the fringes of the London protests was "the result of a baton strike from behind and a push by the officer" that casued him to "fall heavily".

Keith Starmer, head of the Crown Prosecution Service today announced the inquest process had allowed "a degree of clarity to emerge" in evidence surrounding Mr Tomlinson's death.

Mr Starmer said "matters have moved on in two ways" since his previous decision not to pursue criminal charges against the officer. New medical evidence at the inquest and the opinions of experts during the hearing helped change his mind.

He added: "There is now sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of successfully prosecuting PC Simon Harwood for the manslaughter of Mr Tomlinson. That being the case, it is clearly in the public interest that criminal proceedings be brought."

A summons charging PC Harwood with the manslaughter of Mr Tomlinson had been obtained from the City of Westminster Magistrates Court. He will appear before that court on June 20.

Speaking after the decision was announced, Mr Tomlinson's stepson Paul King said relatives were "really happy". He said: "We are a big step closer to where we want to be."

Despite welcoming the announcement, Mr King, standing next to Mr Tomlinson's widow Julia, said the decision to prosecute should have been made earlier.

Responding to the CPS decision, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said: "This is clearly a very, very serious matter for all concerned."

He added: "I have got to be very, very concerned at an inquest verdict that returns a verdict of unlawful killing involving, as the inquest did, one of my police officers. My sympathies continue to be with the Tomlinson family."