Labour should ‘get a grip’ after watchdog probe into Chris Kaba officer | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Kemi Badenoch slammed the police watchdog for launching a gross misconduct listening to towards the police marksman who shot Chris Kaba. Metropolitan Police officer Martyn Blake, 41, shot the 24-year-old in Streatham, south-east London, in September 2022 after Mr Kaba tried to ram his well past police automobiles that had hemmed him in.

He was cleared of homicide over the taking pictures in October, however on Wednesday watchdog the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) stated he’ll nonetheless should face gross misconduct proceedings. But the Tory chief insisted that the IOPC “has got this wrong”.

Taking to X, she stated: “Heroes like the police officer who shot Chris Kaba are all that stand between us and the predators, thieves and maniacs.

“But because our society has gone mad, instead of a commendation, that police officer was put on trial for murder. I said at the time it was a disgrace and so did many others.

“Fortunately, a jury of ordinary Londoners found Sergeant Martyn Blake, Not Guilty. They had more sense and decency than the officials who made the decision to charge him with murder in the first place. And they did it without seeing evidence the judge ruled inadmissible: CCTV footage of Chris Kaba shooting someone from a rival gang.

“But Sgt Blake is still facing persecution. Unbelievably, the IOPC are bringing a case of gross misconduct against him.”

Mrs Badenoch continued: “The over-interpretation of guidelines to the point where no one is able to do their job properly will harm policing and deter good people from taking up this difficult job.

“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 Sgt Blake did.

“The IOPC has got this wrong and the government should get a grip of this issue urgently.”

On the evening Mr Kaba died, police started following the Audi Q8 that he was driving as a result of it had been used as a getaway automobile in a taking pictures in Brixton, south London, the evening earlier than

They didn’t know who was driving the automobile on the time, though it later emerged Mr Kaba was a core member of considered one of London’s most harmful road gangs and was accused of being concerned in two shootings within the week earlier than he died.

Dozens of Metropolitan Police armed officers downed instruments in outrage when Mr Blake was charged with homicide and the military was placed on standby to plug the hole.

IOPC director Amanda Rowe stated: “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.

“We appreciate that the Home Office is carrying out a review of the legal test for the use of force in misconduct cases, however, we must apply the law as it currently stands.”

Mr Blake was cleared after a trial on the Old Bailey in October final yr and questions have been raised as as to if he ought to ever have been charged with homicide.

The IOPC stated the cost was introduced after “careful consideration of a significant amount of evidence” and the applying of related authorized exams whereas the Crown Prosecution Service stated the matter needed to be put earlier than a jury.

Mr Blake was publicly named throughout his trial as is customary observe, however restrictions stay in place banning the publication of his tackle or any description or picture of him.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is bringing in authorized adjustments that may give police marksmen accused of homicide the appropriate to anonymity as much as the purpose of conviction.