Met officer who shot Chris Kaba to learn if he faces misconduct case

The Metropolitan Police marksman who shot and killed Chris Kaba is expected to know by the end of July whether he will have to face gross misconduct proceedings.

Kaba, 24, was shot dead in Streatham, south-east London, in September 2022 as he tried to ram his Audi past police cars that had followed him and penned him in.

Sgt Martyn Blake was cleared of murder following a trial but is waiting to find out whether he will be subject to a disciplinary hearing.

A solicitor for the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), told an inquest hearing on Tuesday that the organisation would likely decide whether to proceed with the case by 31 July.

Kaba's car was pursued by police officers because it had been linked to three previous firearms incidents in five months.

Officers were not aware of his identity at the time, but it later emerged that Kaba was a member of one of London's most dangerous street gangs and was accused of being involved in two shootings in the week before he died.

Senior Coroner Dr Julian Morris will also decide in the coming months whether to hold a full inquest into his death, Southwark Coroner's Court heard.

"There are very powerful reasons why this inquest should be resumed, and if it is resumed it should be as soon as possible," Ryder said.

Following Blake's acquittal, then home secretary Yvette Cooper vowed to raise the legal test used by prosecutors to determine whether to bring charges against police officers over use of force into line with the standard used for members of the public.

The test used by the IOPC over whether to bring misconduct proceedings would also be raised to the level used in criminal law, she said.

The disciplinary proceedings against Blake were put on hold while any legal changes were made.