The firearms officer who shot and killed Chris Kaba in south London nearly four years ago will not face misconduct proceedings, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed. Officer Martyn Blake, known by his cipher NX121, was previously cleared of murder by a jury at the Old Bailey.
Mr. Kaba, 24, died in September 2022 after he drove toward officers in an attempt to break through a roadblock in Streatham. The IOPC initially proposed a gross misconduct hearing for Officer Blake, a decision that led to firearms officers temporarily turning in their weapons in protest. However, the IOPC paused the process pending government regulatory changes regarding the use of force.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley stated that the decision brings an end to nearly four years of uncertainty for the officer, his family, and the wider firearms command. He emphasized that there was no evidence Officer Blake failed in his duties and reiterated the view that a misconduct hearing was not warranted following his acquittal.
Sir Mark defended the actions of police officers, calling the IOPC's decision a "milestone moment to reset a police accountability system that is out of balance." He expressed concern about the lack of support for officers and the potential for increased hesitancy in confronting dangerous criminals due to multiple accountability processes, which can include criminal, misconduct, civil, and inquest proceedings. "Criminals are held to account once by the courts - officers can be held to account four times through criminal, misconduct, civil and inquest processes that span years," Sir Mark said.
Paula Dodds, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, welcomed the decision, stating it would be supported by officers across London. She stressed the importance of policies that support lawful decisions made by officers based on their training, preventing them from fearing the loss of their liberty and livelihood. "The officer has sadly suffered years of legal scrutiny following this incident," Dodds added.
The IOPC stated that there were no exceptional circumstances to justify changing its position, leading to the withdrawal of disciplinary proceedings. Director of engagement Amanda Rowe noted that the IOPC was aware of the impact of proceedings on all parties involved and sought to avoid unnecessary delays, but it was right to pause until the legislative changes and their impact were clear. The IOPC has notified the coroner of its decision, who had previously paused consideration of reopening the inquest pending the outcome of disciplinary matters.