Met officer cleared of murder after shooting Chris Kaba to face misconduct hearing

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".

Police officers did not know who was driving the Audi 24-year-old Mr Kaba was in but it had been used as a getaway car in another shooting in south London the day before, Mr Blake's murder trial heard.

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

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: "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 [Mr 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 Police said a date for the IOPC hearing was yet to be set, and said a chief officer from another police force would be asked to chair it, to ensure independence.