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Chris Kaba's family 'devastated' after misconduct case against officer cleared of murder paused
The Independent Office for Police Conduct paused gross misconduct proceedings due to a legal test raising the threshold for police use of force cases to criminal law standards.
- On Wednesday, the Independent Office for Police Conduct said it would pause issuing gross misconduct papers against Sergeant Martyn Blake ahead of a legal change expected in the spring.
- The Met asked the IOPC to drop proceedings after the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper accepted a recommendation to raise the misconduct test, making strong representations.
- Chris Kaba, 24, was unarmed when officers shot him in Streatham, his family says, and Sergeant Martyn Blake was acquitted after a trial focused on a 17-second vehicle sequence following an IOPC ruling last year.
- Mr Kaba's family said they were devastated and only learned on Wednesday that the Met had invited the IOPC to halt proceedings, while Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman urged the pause be as short as possible.
- Following earlier ministerial vows to raise the test, the watchdog said it would pause to assess the impact, with IOPC director Amanda Rowe noting `it's important that our decision takes account of impending changes to the use of force standard`.
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8 Articles
8 Articles
Misconduct proceedings against a Metropolitan Police officer who shot a man dead in Streatham in September 2022 have been paused.
The watchdog had been investigating Martyn Blake who a jury cleared of murdering Chris Kaba. It's reviewing a change to the tests used to bring criminal charges and misconduct hearings against officers who use force. Mr Kaba's family say they're 'devastated'.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources8
Leaning Left0Leaning Right2Center3Last UpdatedBias Distribution60% Center
Bias Distribution
- 60% of the sources are Center
60% Center
C 60%
R 40%
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