Chris Kaba: Family call for inquest to resume as police watchdog halt misconduct proceedings

THE FAMILY of Chris Kaba have called for the inquest into their son’s death to resume as soon as possible.

The call follows the announcement from the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), that due to changes to the law on police disciplinary cases, Metropolitan Police marksmen Sgt Martyn Blake will no longer face misconduct proceedings over the fatal shooting of Mr Kaba.

The 24-year-old was unarmed and police officers did not know who he was at the time of the shooting on 5 September 2022 in Streatham, London.

Mr Kaba’s family say the new changes to the law on police disciplinary cases, which have been put in place by the Government, “make it near impossible to persuade the IOPC to proceed with a misconduct process in all unresolved cases.”

In a statement, the family said: “The effect of the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s unnecessary retroactive policy in all as-yet unresolved use of force cases is that victims of police use of force – and in cases that involve fatal use of force, their bereaved families – will need to fight to persuade the IOPC to pursue disciplinary action against officers, even where a case to answer decision was made months or years ago.

“The government’s decision to weaken the standard for holding the police to account only came into force last week, but it is already having a damaging impact on bereaved families and in all cases involving non-fatal use of force by the police.

“The IOPC guidance on so called ‘transitional cases’ is framed in such a way as to make it near impossible to persuade the IOPC to proceed with a misconduct process in all unresolved cases.”

‘Full and fearless examination’

The family added: “Worse still for the family of Chris Kaba, the IOPC makes explicit mention of the force used by Martyn Blake in Chris’s death as a stark example for dropping misconduct proceedings in unresolved cases. This gives every appearance that the IOPC has a closed mind on this specific case.

“While today’s setback illustrates just how weak police accountability mechanisms have become, it also highlights how important it is that the inquest into Chris’ death is resumed as soon as possible. The circumstances of his death need a full and fearless examination urgently so his family and the wider public can learn the truth.”

Following a review of the case after Blake was acquitted in October 2024 of murder.

In April 2025 the IOPC confirmed that Blake would face a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct in relation to his Use of Force.

In January 2026, the IOPC announced the gross misconduct proceedings against the Metropolitan Police firearms officer who killed Kaba was put on hold.

The decision to put the proceedings on hold, followed a private letter sent by the Metropolitan Police to the watchdog in November 2025, without the family’s knowledge, asking them to withdraw the proceedings completely, given the planned changes to the law.

‘It sends a dangerous messgae’