Police Sergeant Martyn Blake, who fired the bullet that killed Londoner Chris Kaba in 2022, may no longer face disciplinary charges, it has now been announced.
The police firearms officer had been acquitted of murder after Mr Kaba was shot following a police chase in Streatham but it had been indicated that he may nevertheless face a charge of gross misconduct. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) have now issued a new statement saying they are “reviewing (their) original decision prior to the trial” that Sergeant Blake should face a gross misconduct hearing and will be “taking into account the evidence examined in court and and representations from the Metropolitan Police Service.”
His prosecution and a BBC Panorama programme screened on the shooting was discussed at the Greater London Assembly Police and Crime Committee in City Hall on 6th November 2024. At that meeting Simon Hill, Deputy General Secretary of the Metropolitan Police Federation, raised the matter as an example of why the morale of his members was suffering.
He said that in a survey in 2023, over 90% who responded recorded they believed their colleagues were despondent, and that media coverage such as the Panorama programme screened on the previous Monday affects them even more.
He was scathing of the BBC for their reporting and said that Sal Naseem, the former IOPC member, featured who spoke about his views of the killing had left the organisation before the investigation had even been completed. It was, he stated, misleading. He believes the Federation and the Met are in lockstep and actively considering their responses.
He also stated that constant media intrusion and what he described as partial coverage plus social media images, are damaging all officers’ confidence and that many are scared to make arrests for fear of being videoed and then publicly criticised. On Friday 8th November, Head of the Metropolitan Police Sir Mark Rowley added his condemnation to media reports on Kaba as “unhelpful”.
The system, he claimed, is fundamentally flawed. Over 1000 Met police officers are awaiting disciplinary action on various matters, with some cases dating back as far as 8 years.
Andy Walker, Head of Delivery for Uniformed Policing, College of Policing Dartford, agreed that pressure on officers is now more intensive than ever and that training given has to reflect this reality.
However the BBC hit back, telling Old Street News they fully stand by the Panorama episode on the Kaba incident.
“The programme was clear that the decision to send a file to the CPS was made following an assessment of the evidence, and that the decision had been made by the IOPC. The programme was also clear that Mr Naseem was not speaking on behalf of the IOPC but that he had been the Regional Director at the time Chris Kaba was shot and the IOPC was called in to investigate.
“We reject the suggestion that the documentary is unfair or unbalanced. This is a public interest investigation into the events of the night of the shooting and their context and consequences.
“A broad range of important issues are covered in the programme, including: how the armed police operation unfolded, Chris Kaba’s criminal history and his actions when the police tried to stop him.
“The programme also featured interviews with the former IOPC official who led the investigation, a former Assistant Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police, and serving and former firearms officers. There is a detailed analysis of what happened on the night using police bodycam footage and the assessment, at the time, of the independent watchdog’s regional director.
“We advise people to watch the documentary and to make up their own minds.”
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