I to was beaten up by a copper - quite badly in the late 80's after I was accused of throwing mud at his parents house. No idea what or why he thought it was me - but it wasnt. The tried to arrest me but the duty sergeant told him to leave it - I was 15/16 at the time. I know all too well what 'some' coppers can be like and know all to well the intimidation used by the NUM local leaders at anyone who dared to say they wanted to work or enough was enough (my old man was a union 'firebrand').
Both sides were politically motivated - and if you ever have a situation where a union can bring down a Govt then the country has serious problems - which is why we have democracy / votes and elections - something which the NUM at the time didnt want to have.