A DOCUMENTARY which aims to show the public what beat officers really think about frontline policing is to give a behind-the-scenes glimpse of what happened during a controversial rally in Bolton.

The Channel 4 programme, Coppers, gained access to four police forces across the country in a bid to show what police officers have to deal with on a daily basis.

The last programme in the series, to be aired on Monday, November 29, will look at what happened when the English Defence League and Unite Against Fascism staged rival protests in the town and is meant to take viewers into “the heart of a riot”.

The documentary will be screened just weeks after a police watchdog announced that it was to investigate officers who appeared to be shown on video footage attacking a demonstrator.

A Channel 4 spokesman: “The five-part series gives ordinary police officers the chance to say what they really think about working on the front line.

“The final programme of the series was filmed with Greater Manchester Police’s Tactical Aid Unit as they policed demonstrations in Bolton by the English Defence League and Unite Against Fascism.”

Cameras accompany officers as they police violent clashes between thousands of opposing demonstrators.

Publicity materials for the show say: “Tactical Aid Unit officers, who are trained to tackle heavy duty jobs from knocking down doors to controlling football crowds, are expected to hold the line between the two opposing groups.

“It’s their job to keep the peace, whatever it takes. But as protester numbers swell and the crowds become harder to control, violence and scores of arrests ensue.”

As reported in The Bolton News, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has launched an investigation into the actions of officers who arrested anti-facist protester Alan Clough, aged 63.

One part of the probe will examine the actions of three officers who are shown on the footage and appear to be delivering blows.

Mr Clough, of Ainsworth Road, Radcliffe, was due to appear in court last month charged with using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at the EDL rally and UAF counter-rally.

But when his defence team obtained the footage, which can be viewed on The Bolton News website, the CPS decided to drop the case.