Key facts
- The IOPC has paused gross misconduct proceedings against Metropolitan Police officer Martyn Blake, who shot Chris Kaba.
- The decision follows planned changes to the law on police disciplinary cases, raising the legal test for misconduct to the criminal law standard.
- Chris Kaba, an unarmed 24-year-old Black man, was fatally shot by Blake on September 5, 2022.
- Blake was acquitted of murder in October 2024 but was set to face a disciplinary hearing.
- The Kaba family learned of the pause and stated they were not informed in real-time about the Met's request to withdraw proceedings.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has decided to pause gross misconduct proceedings against the Metropolitan Police firearms officer, Martyn Blake, who fatally shot Chris Kaba in September 2022. This decision comes after Blake was acquitted of murder in October 2024, but was facing a disciplinary hearing for his use of force.
The IOPC stated that planned changes to the law, which will raise the legal test for misconduct in use-of-force cases to the same standard as criminal law, influenced their decision. The watchdog believes this ensures consistency and fairness for officers.
However, the family of Chris Kaba expressed devastation, stating they learned of the decision to pause proceedings only recently and were not informed in real-time that the Metropolitan Police had privately asked the IOPC in November to withdraw the proceedings entirely. They have lost confidence in the IOPC's independence and feel excluded from a process that profoundly affects them.
Campaigners and the family's lawyers highlighted the distress caused by further delays and uncertainty, arguing that proceedings should have continued under the existing rules. They criticized the change in rules mid-process, viewing it as a move that prevents professional accountability for Blake and a setback for police accountability in Britain.