An armed police officer who was cleared of murder after fatally shooting Chris Kaba in 2022 is unlikely to ever return to active firearms duty, according to the chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation. Paula Dodds stated that the officer, identified by the cipher NX121, has not resumed firearms duties and may not do so due to the extensive legal process.
Nearly four years after the shooting, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed that Sergeant Martyn Blake would not face a disciplinary investigation. This decision followed his acquittal of murder by a jury at the Old Bailey in October 2024, which operated under the higher criminal standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
Dodds, speaking on the Daily Mail's The Trial+ podcast, expressed that while the officer has returned to work, he is not currently carrying a firearm and likely never will. She reflected on the psychological impact such an ordeal could have on an officer's future decision-making under pressure.
"Personally, if I'm reflecting on the situation and I'm the officer, would I be confident going to something similar and having to take a decision in that same way, knowing what I've already gone through, would that taint my decision making?" Dodds asked. "Bearing in mind the split seconds I've got to make that decision, and if I'm the senior officer responsible for other officers in the car. I don't know if I could do it."
The shooting occurred in September 2022 after armed police pursued the vehicle Kaba was driving, believing it had been used as a getaway car in a gang-related shooting the previous night. Police vehicles boxed in Kaba's car in Streatham. Footage shows armed officers approaching Kaba's car, which had been hemmed in by police vehicles.
Kaba reversed into a police car and then accelerated, nearly dragging officers under the vehicle before Sergeant Blake fired his weapon, striking Kaba in the head. The jury's acquittal of murder in October 2024 was met with anger by some fellow police marksmen, who reportedly turned in their own weapons.
Despite the acquittal, the IOPC had directed the Met to hold a misconduct hearing for Sergeant Blake, using the civil standard of proof – the balance of probabilities. This hearing was paused in January pending a review of police use-of-force regulations. Dodds questioned the two-year delay in reaching a decision on disciplinary proceedings when the evidence had not changed.
Dodds also criticized the prolonged process, suggesting it has had a "cooling effect" on firearms officers nationwide. She argued that officers should have protections when tragic incidents occur, emphasizing that firearms officers do not aim to discharge their weapons but are prepared to face serious incidents.
Sergeant Blake had reportedly faced threats following the incident, with a bounty placed on his head. Dodds, who represents 30,000 officers in London, stressed that firearms officers undertake dangerous duties without additional pay or reward and that accountability should be balanced with adequate protections.