Watchdog pauses misconduct proceedings against police marksman who shot Chris Kaba

“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,” the watchdog said.

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, Chris Kaba’s family said: “Martyn Blake fatally shot Chris when he was unarmed and without knowing who he was.

“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 IOPC could and should have consulted us last year, in advance of this decision. 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.”

The decision to launch misconduct proceedings sparked outrage amongst close colleagues of Sgt Blake – previously known as NX121 – who was unanimously acquitted of the murder of Kaba, 24, in October 2024.

Speaking exclusively to LBC, one of Sgt Blake’s colleagues, who was there on the night of the shooting, says the decision by the IOPC investigation mean less firearms officers on the streets.

The officer, who we chose not to name, left the force shortly after Sgt Blake was charged with murder.

He told LBC: “There are fewer firearms officers because of what’s happened to NX121. We all hoped it would be over but now (the IOPC decision) is going to affect firearms officers.

“It would be a logical step that if they feel like the risk to their liberty and to their overall wellbeing and their mental health and their family security is so great that it's not worth it, then officers may well vote with their feet, and I couldn't blame them for doing so.

“That said, those that remain have made the right decision for them and I honestly think they're the most remarkable people in our country and I think we should do far more to show our gratitude.

“Public safety is put at risk when there are fewer firearms officers, or they are caused to second guess what they're doing for fear of unfair and very long running scrutinous processes that happen when they've acted in accordance with their training and entirely without malice and done their job."I think the IOPC need to be really careful as they seek to do a really important job and perform a really important social function, which is to hold policing to account. And no police officer will doubt or underestimate the huge need for that.

“But where that becomes something which looks and feels more like a witch hunt, then officers will respond to that."

Kaba was unarmed when he was shot in the head by Sgt Blake through the windscreen of a car he was driving in Streatham, south London

Sgt Blake’s unit blocked in Kaba's car after receiving information it was linked to a shooting outside a school the night before.

Bodyworn camera footage of the incident played at the murder trial showed Kaba trying to escape, reversing backwards into an unmarked police car, before the trigger was pulled.

Following the acquittal, a judge lifted reporting restrictions preventing media from reporting Kaba’s criminal background.

It was revealed that Kaba was a senior member of a gang called ‘67’ in Brixton Hill at the time of his killing.