Local Have-a-go-Hero 'Snubbed'

3.51.05pm GMT Mon 13th Mar 2006

The family of John Cann have expressed anger at the way he was treated by the police after intervening to rescue a woman who was being cruelly beaten up by a man. He found himself facing charges - later dropped; his DNA sample has been kept for criminal records; and in a letter to Twickenham MP Vincent Cable the Hounslow borough commander, Chief Inspector Ali Dizaei, has refused to commend him for bravery and criticised him for his intervention.

Vincent Cable said that there are two "highly unsatisfactory aspects of the response. First, the retention of DNA samples, which is now happening on a widespread basis, has left Mr Cann feeling that he might be prejudged if he is ever involved again in dealings with the police. Second, while I appreciate that the police cannot encourage freelancing by members of the public, they could have acknowledged that in this case, Mr Cann was being brave and public spirited."