Officer who shot Chris Kaba faces misconduct probe

The Met Police officer who was cleared of murder after shooting Chris Kaba will face a gross misconduct hearing, the police watchdog has said.

Sgt Martyn Blake, 41, an officer in the specialist firearms unit MO19, shot Mr Kaba in the head after he tried to ram his way out of a police vehicle stop in Streatham on 5 September 2022.

Met Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: "We made strong representations that he should not face any further action due to the extensive evidence tried and tested at court and the not guilty verdict returned by the jury."

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said its decision was "based on examining all the evidence [and] views of all parties".

Matt Cane, general secretary of the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers in the force, said: "This is frankly a nonsensical ruling by the IOPC that will shock police officers across London and indeed the country.

"Police officers should not have their livelihoods or liberty put at risk for performing what unequivocally, as has been found in a court of law, is their lawful and appropriate function."

Sgt Blake's murder trial heard that police officers did not know who was driving the Audi 24-year-old Mr Kaba was in on the night of the shooting but were aware it had been used as a getaway car in another shooting in south London the day before.

It later emerged the 24-year-old was a core member of one of London's most dangerous street gangs and was accused of being involved in two shootings in the week before he died.

Dozens of Metropolitan Police armed officers downed tools in protest when Sgt Blake was charged with murder and the Army was put on standby.

During the trial, one of his fellow firearms officers told the Old Bailey he would have taken a shot if Sgt Blake had not, and another said he was "fractions of a second" away from doing the same.

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said in a statement: "We understand the impact this decision will have on Chris Kaba's family and Sgt Blake and acknowledge the significant public interest in this case, particularly among our black communities, firearms officers and the wider policing community.

"This is a decision we have taken based on examining all the evidence, views of all parties and by applying the thresholds set out in legislation and guidance which govern our work.

"The legal test for deciding whether there is a case to answer is low – is there sufficient evidence upon which, on the balance of probabilities, a disciplinary panel could make a finding of misconduct?

"This has been met and therefore we need to follow the legal process."

The Metropolitan Police said: "We know another lengthy process will fall heavily on the shoulders of [Sgt Blake] and more widely our firearms officers, who continue to bravely and tirelessly police the streets of London every day to protect the public."

The force said that its armed officers responded to more than 4,000 incidents each year, but said there were "only one or two incidents where shots are fired by police".

It added: "These officers are the most professional, accountable and cautious in their use of lethal force in the world and their operations have prevented countless acts of violence across our city."

The Met said a date for the gross misconduct hearing was yet to be set, and added that a chief officer from another police force would be asked to chair it, to ensure independence.

Chris Kaba's family said they welcomed the news of the hearing and they hoped it would lead to Sgt Blake being removed from the Met.

"We are still so devastated to have lost Chris - this should never have happened," the family said.

Sir Keir Starmer has confidence in the IOPC, Downing Street has said over its ruling that Sgt Blake is to face a gross misconduct hearing.

The prime minister's official spokesperson said it was a decision for the IOPC but the verdict of not guilty in the criminal trial must be respected.

"We are committed to ensuring that the police have got the confidence they need to do their incredibly difficult and dangerous jobs," the spokesperson said.

Sgt Blake was publicly named during his trial, as is standard practice, but restrictions remain in place banning the publication of his address or any description or image of him.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is bringing in legal changes that will give police marksmen accused of murder the right to anonymity unless they are convicted.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: "I'm deeply disappointed by this IOPC decision.

"Sgt Martyn Blake has already been unanimously acquitted of murder by a jury having carefully considered all the facts and evidence.

"He made a difficult decision in the heat of a moment, when confronted by a car associated with firearms offences ramming into police officers."

The shadow home secretary added that Mr Kaba was a "violent gang member" and said: "We need to support police officers who do difficult things to protect the public, provided they act in accordance with the law, as a jury found this officer did.

"This has hung over Sgt Blake for too long. I think the IOPC has got this wrong."

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