Officer in Chris Kaba Shooting Avoids Disciplinary Action

Chris Kaba was shot once in the head in September 2022; an Old Bailey jury subsequently acquitted the officer involved.

The IOPC has now confirmed the termination of all disciplinary proceedings against that officer.

A substantial law change in June redefined the use of force test in misconduct cases, transitioning it from a civil to a criminal law standard.

This legislative amendment directly influenced the IOPC's decision-making process.

Amanda Rowe stated the IOPC sought to avoid unnecessary delays, confirming the body paused disciplinary proceedings until the legislative change took effect and its implications became clear.

Rowe further confirmed, "Having considered both our policy and the representations from the Kaba family and Sergeant Blake, we have today notified them of our decision to withdraw disciplinary proceedings."

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley welcomed the decision, stating, "Today's decision finally brings to an end almost four years of uncertainty for NX121, his family and the wider firearms command, with all the considerable worry and stress that has brought."

Sir Mark also recognised the profound impact on Chris Kaba’s family, who continue to grieve their loss.

He asserted that criminals face accountability once through the courts, while officers can endure accountability four times through criminal, misconduct, civil, and inquest processes spanning years; Sir Mark stated, "That cannot be right."

Paula Dodds affirmed the decision, stating it "will not only be welcomed by the officer and his family - but all police officers across London."

Fintan Starkey claims the officer shot Kaba in Streatham, south London, in September 2022, after the gangster reportedly drove at armed officers, attempting to avoid a police roadblock.

Mr Kaba was reportedly driving a vehicle used as a getaway car in a gang-related shooting the night before in Brixton, south London.

Martyn Blake claims he believed Chris Kaba posed a threat to a fellow officer, with the movements of Kaba's car making him believe one of his colleagues could be killed.

Fellow police marksmen reportedly turned in their own weapons, enraged that the officer had faced charges.

A coroner will now decide whether to reopen an inquest into Kaba’s death.

The Home Office has announced an end-to-end review of police misconduct procedures.

The Kaba family, through the charity Inquest, claims the IOPC explicitly mentions the force used by Martyn Blake in Chris’s death as a stark example for dropping misconduct proceedings in unresolved cases; they further claim this gives every appearance that the IOPC has a closed mind on this specific case.