Former police officers could be charged over death of activist Blair Peach

Scotland Yard passed a secret internal report into the killing to officials at the Crown Prosecution Service today.

The decision was made after public pressure to reveal the almost forgotten review in the months after the death of Ian Tomlinson and the alleged assault of Brighton woman Nicky Fisher during G20 protests.

Senior officers pencilled in publication for later this month after an appeal by Mr Peach's partner Celia Stubbs, who lives in Brighton.

But police solicitors advised prosecutors should look at it in case there is any chance further inquiries could be made and charges brought.

One source close to the process said it is unlikely that murder or manslaughter charges will be brought, but officers may face corruption charges.

A shadow has hung over the death of Mr Peach, 33, since he was hit over the head at a demonstration against the National Front in Southall, west London, in 1979.

Members of the force's Special Patrol Group were suspected of hitting him with a rubberised police radio or a lead-filled cosh.

A report written by Commander John Cass, a former senior officer at the Met's internal complaints department, examined his death.

He is believed to have recommended the prosecution of police officers, although no charges were ever brought.

In June, Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said the report should be published, possibly by the end of the year, with some details censored.

He told a meeting of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA) that a review of the documents would take place to consider whether any censorship was required.

Members of the MPA unanimously supported a decision to review the documents with a view to publishing them before the end of the year.

In July, former Scotland Yard inspector Alan Murray said he believed Mr Peach was murdered or unlawfully killed, but not by police.

Mr Murray, now a 59-year-old Sheffield University lecturer, led a unit of the Met's riot squad, called the Special Patrol Group.

He denied killing Mr Peach and said that he did not believe anyone in his unit was responsible.

The former officer said the inquiry was flawed and a verdict of death by misadventure at Mr Peach's inquest was "inappropriate".

MPA member Jenny Jones, who was the first to call for the report to be published this summer, welcomed the decision.

She said: "This could be a wonderful Christmas present for Blair Peach's family, if anything comes from it.

"But it does make me wonder why the Met had to wait until the report was two weeks from publication to make this move. Why not a month ago, or even two decades ago?

"Let's hope this does result in justice for the family rather than the past inaction and injustice.

"I will be asking the Met for a full briefing to the MPA to explain the process, the contents of the report, and the reasons for passing to the CPS, with guidance from the CPS. We have to understand the timing and the long delay."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said the report was formally handed to the CPS today.

He said: "At the request of the Met the CPS has agreed to review the Blair Peach Report and provide advice as to whether any further investigation into any aspect of the matter would be justified.

"This independent oversight should provide clarity to the family of Blair Peach and the public that the Met has exhausted all investigative options in relation to this historic case.

"Earlier this year the Commissioner publicly stated his desire to publish the report unless there were overwhelming reasons not to do so and this view has not changed."

Mrs Stubbs said the report was considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions in 1979 who ruled there was insufficient evidence to prosecute anyone.

She said she was worried the decision could be a delaying tactic and that a report was now unlikely to be published until Spring.

Speaking from her Brighton home, Mrs Stubbs said: "It is amazing that after all this time the Met has advised them to send the report and papers to the Director of Public Prosecutions because now there could possibly be a prosecution.

"It is bizarre that also it could be a delaying tactic. It is quite bizarre that maybe they are worried as there has been quite a lot of bad publicity.

"It is going to take several months to look at the report and that could be a real postponement tactic."