Armed police officer who shot dead Chris Kaba will not face disciplinary action

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) confirmed today that it would not pursue disciplinary proceedings against Metropolitan Police firearms officer Martyn Blake

The police officer that killed Chris Kaba will not face disciplinary proceedings, the UK's police watchdog has confirmed, after he was cleared of murdering the unarmed Black man.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has said it will not pursue proceedings against Martyn Blake, a Metropolitan Police firearms officer who shot and killed Mr Kaba after he tried to escape a police box in in Streatham, London, in 2022. Sargeant Blake, who was cleared of his murder following a trial at the Old Bailey in 2024, said he shot Mr Kaba through the window of his car because he believed the unarmed 24-year-old posed a threat to a fellow officer.

Despite being cleared, he was due to face disciplinary proceedings which, due to the Government changing regulations around police use of force, will now not take place.

Confirming the proceedings won't take place, IOPC director of engagement Amanda Rowe said Mr Kaba's family had been informed of the decision. She said: "Our thoughts remain with Chris Kaba's family and friends and everyone impacted by his death.

"We are acutely aware of the impact of proceedings for everyone involved in this case and have always sought to avoid any unnecessary delays, however it was right that we paused progressing disciplinary proceedings until the legislation change came into effect and its impact was clear.

"Having considered both our policy and the representations from the Kaba family and Sergeant Blake, we have today notified them of our decision to withdraw disciplinary proceedings."

With the disciplinary action now longer taking place, a coroner must now decide whether to hold an inquest into the death of Mr Kaba. The 24-year-old was soon to become a dad when he was stopped by police in 2022, after the car he was driving was followed due to having links to a previous shooting in Brixton.

He attempted to drive backwards after being boxed in by police, and then forwards whiel trying to ram himself free of the barrier created by the cars.

Mr Blake said it was those movements that made him believe one of his colleagues could be killed, and jurors hearing the case at the Old Bailey said he opened fire in response. Mr Kaba died from a single shot to the forehead. A fellow firearms officer said he would have taken the shot had Mr Blake not, with a second saying he was "fractions of a second" from doing the same.

Paula Dodds, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: "This is very much the right decision that will not only be welcomed by the officer and his family, but all police officers across London.

"It is imperative that there are policies in place for operational policing which support lawful decisions made by officers, based on their training, so that they should not be placed in fear of the loss of their liberty and livelihood. Police officers are of course - and rightly - highly accountable for their actions. But the officer has sadly suffered years of legal scrutiny following this incident.

"We are pleased this has all now concluded and that the officer can continue to serve the public without this hanging over him. We thank his legal team for their years of hard work on this case."

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley welcomed the decision, saying: "Today's decision finally brings to an end almost four years of uncertainty for NX121, his family and the wider firearms command, with all the considerable worry and stress that has brought. We also recognise the profound impact on Chris Kaba's family, who continue to grieve their loss."

He said the IOPC's decision should be "a milestone moment to reset a police accountability system that is out of balance". He added: "No police officer is above the law, but we have been clear the system holding police to account is broken.

"I worry about the lack of support officers face for doing their best, but most of all I worry for the public. As I have said before, the more we crush the spirit of good officers, the less they can fight crime."

After Sgt Blake's acquittal, then-home secretary Yvette Cooper vowed to change laws around use of force for police officers, and as a result the test used by the IOPC over whether to bring misconduct proceedings has been raised to the level used in criminal law.