Misconduct proceedings against policeman who shot Chris Kaba are 'paused' while legal thresholds on force are expected to be changed

A watchdog said it will 'pause' misconduct proceedings against the policeman who shot Chris Kaba until a legal change comes into force this spring.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct said it is waiting until a test used over the use of force in police misconduct cases is changed.

Met firearms officer Martyn Blake shot 24-year-old Mr Kaba in the head after he drove towards officers in an attempt to smash through a roadblock in Streatham, south London, in September 2022.

Sergeant Blake was cleared of murder following an Old Bailey trial in October 2024, after which the Government pledged to review the legal thresholds used to bring criminal charges or misconduct proceedings.

The IOPC is expecting the change to come into force this spring, and is waiting to understand the implications before serving gross misconduct papers on the officer.

The watchdog said: 'We have decided it is not appropriate to make a decision on whether, in all the circumstances, it's fair and reasonable that Sergeant Blake should continue to face disciplinary proceedings, until we understand the impact of amendments to the use of force standard and any Home Office guidance.'

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: 'We recognise the impact of this case on everyone affected and it isn't our intention to delay matters any more than necessary, however it's important that our decision takes account of impending changes to the use of force standard.'

Following the decision to pause the proceedings, Mr Kaba's family said they are 'devastated'. 'Martyn Blake fatally shot Chris when he was unarmed and without knowing who he was,' they added.

'Until today, Martyn Blake was quite correctly facing imminent disciplinary proceedings for that use of force.

'We cannot understand why we, as Chris's family, only learned for the first time today that the Met invited the IOPC to drop proceedings against Martyn Blake back in November.

'We are devastated that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has decided under this kind of police pressure to put on hold the preparations for Martyn Blake's gross misconduct proceedings.'

The family said the IOPC 'could and should have consulted us last year in advance of this decision', adding: 'We would have said then, and we say now, that preparations for these proceedings should continue without more disruption and delay.

'To not involve us until after a decision to pause has been made is deeply disappointing and has damaged our confidence in the independence of the IOPC. The lack of consideration shown to us in this process adds to our trauma and our sense of injustice.'

Mr Kaba was a member of one of London's most violent street gangs and was fatally shot after trying to ram his way past police cars.

On the night he died, officers began following the Audi Q8 he was driving because it had been used as a getaway car in a shooting in Brixton, south London, the night before.

They did not know who was driving the car at the time, although it later emerged Mr Kaba was a core member of a London street gang and was accused of being involved in two shootings in the week before he died.

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Dozens of Metropolitan Police armed officers put down tools in outrage when Mr Blake was charged with murder and the army was put on stand-by to plug the gap.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman said the 'pause' over whether to bring disciplinary proceedings should be 'as short as possible'.

Referring to the officer as NX121, the cipher used before a judge ruled he could be publicly identified, he said: 'Following NX121's acquittal for murder we made strong representations to the Independent Office for Police Conduct that he should not face gross misconduct proceedings.

'The facts have already been fully tested during a criminal trial, which resulted in a jury returning a unanimous not guilty verdict.

'In our view, that should have brought this matter to a clear and definitive conclusion.

'We acknowledge the IOPC's decision to pause proceedings.

'However, this pause must be as short as possible.

'NX121's life has been effectively on hold for more than three years, and every additional delay prolongs the stress and uncertainty that he and his family are living with.

'We also recognise that this delay will be felt deeply by Mr Kaba's family, who continue to grieve their loss.'

He said complex legal frameworks 'serve neither officers nor families' and delays add to their distress.

Matt Cane, general secretary of the Metropolitan Police Federation that represents rank and file officers, said: 'This is very much the right decision that will not only be welcomed by Sergeant Blake and his family - but also all police officers across London.

'Police officers should not face losing their liberty or livelihoods for doing the job that society expects of them and it has been pleasing to see Government acknowledgment of this.

'We look forward to Sergeant Blake - already fully exonerated for his actions in court by a jury of peers - swiftly having no further case to answer.'