Firearms officers on trial over police shootings won’t be named throughout prison proceedings, the house secretary has introduced.
Yvette Cooper made the announcement after police marksman Martyn Blake was cleared by a jury on Monday of the homicide of Chris Kaba in Streatham, south London, in September 2022.
Mr Blake, 40, fired a single bullet by the windscreen of the Audi Q8 that 24-year-old Kaba was driving as armed officers surrounded the automobile whereas he tried to flee.
Picture:
Chris Kaba was shot lifeless by a police officer who was cleared of homicide
The Metropolitan Police firearms officer was named for the primary time in March this yr as a choose lifted an anonymity order after media organisations challenged the authorized software to guard his id.
Earlier than that, he had been identified by the codename NX121 after threats had been made in opposition to him.
Ms Cooper mentioned officers will now stay nameless till they’re convicted.
She mentioned the ruling can be a part of an upcoming crime and policing invoice.
She informed the Home of Commons: “When officers act in the most dangerous situations on behalf of the state it is vital that those officers and their families are not put in further danger during any subsequent legal proceedings, so we will therefore introduce a presumption of anonymity for firearms officers subject to criminal trial following a police shooting in the course of their professional duties, up to the point of conviction.”
Ms Cooper mentioned Mr Kaba’s loss of life and the trial of Mr Blake had been held in opposition to “a backdrop of fallen community confidence in policing and the criminal justice system across the country”.
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