Thomas compensated by police

Comedian Mark Thomas has won compensation from the Metropolitan Police after being illegally stopped and searched after making a speech against the arms trades in London’s Docklands. Thomas received £1200 and a full apology for having his wallet and bag searched by two officers in September 2007. A police spokesman said the force admitted the illegal search and questioning. One officer recorded in writing that he was suspicious of Mr Thomas because of his "over-confident attitude". The officer who conducted the search has received "formal words of advice", a spokesman said. The decision came after an inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission sparked by Mr Thomas' original complaint.