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No misconduct case for officer who shot Chris Kaba
The watchdog said there are no exceptional circumstances for disciplinary action after a jury cleared Sgt Martyn Blake of murder.
- On Wednesday, the Independent Office for Police Conduct confirmed it withdrew disciplinary proceedings against Metropolitan Police Sergeant Martyn Blake, following his acquittal of murder at the Old Bailey.
- Watchdog officials paused the disciplinary process while awaiting government regulation changes regarding police use of force; Sgt Blake shot Chris Kaba in 2022 after the Audi he drove was linked to three firearms incidents.
- Reactions to the decision diverged sharply: Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley welcomed the withdrawal as a "milestone moment" for a broken accountability system, while the Kaba family criticized the move, claiming the IOPC appeared to have a "closed mind."
- A coroner will now decide whether to reopen an inquest into Kaba's death, while police federation chair Paula Dodds called the decision "right," emphasizing support for officers making lawful operational choices.
- Following Sgt Blake's acquittal, then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper vowed to update use-of-force laws; these reforms raised the misconduct test to match criminal law standards, leading the IOPC to drop the case.
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13 Articles
13 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources13
Leaning Left3Leaning Right3Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution34% Left, 33% Center, 33% Right
Bias Distribution
- 34% of the sources lean Left, 33% of the sources are Center, 33% of the sources lean Right
34% Left
L 34%
C 33%
R 33%
Factuality
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