A COMMUNITY leader today called for action to be taken against any officers found to have acted incorrectly after he was cleared of violent disorder during the racial disturbances.

Shahid Malik, 33, a member of the Commission for Racial Equality and son of Burnley's deputy mayor, Coun Rafiqe Malik, suffered a facial injury and was arrested while trying to calm disturbances in the town on June 25.

The Crown Prosecution Service has now advised Lancashire Constabulary that it would be inappropriate to institute proceedings against Mr Malik.

Speaking from London, where he is addressing a housing conference, Mr Malik said he now intended to take civil action against Lancashire Constabulary and the Chief Constable.

He said he wanted 'appropriate' action against individual officers found to have acted incorrectly.

He said: "I don't want them 'hung, drawn and quartered'.

"I am just asking for appropriate action. If no action was taken I would find that to be wholly inappropriate and unacceptable."

He said he hoped to institute civil action by the end of October.

He added: "It has been three long months since my arrest and a tremendous weight has now been lifted off my shoulders.

"I am pleased the Crown Prosecution Service has decided that my attempts to quell the unrest were sincere and law-abiding.

"I still find it hard to believe that I was publicly assaulted in the way I was and then arrested for violent disorder."

He said the police's own video showed he was calming the situation, adding: "It has been a mockery from start to finish.

"A clear signal needs to go out that officers are there to enforce the law and that they are not above it."

His solicitor, Tony Murphy of Bindman and Partners said Mr Malik had been completely exonerated: "If officers are prepared to subject a CRE commissioner with hands held aloft to an unprovoked attack on camera and then arrest him, how are other members of the community being treated?"

Lancashire Constabulary are not responding to questions about possible disciplinary action or the proposed civil action against them.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Finnigan said a full file of evidence was submitted some time ago to the CPS for their consideration as to whether proceedings should be taken against Mr Malik.

He said that after reviewing the evidence the decision of the CPS was that they believed there was no realistic prospect of convicting Mr Malik of any offence and therefore believed it was inappropriate to proceed further.

Mr Finnigan added: "The Constabulary accepts that this decision is one which the CPS make independent of the police."