It is time to end the ordeal of Sgt Blake
When the Metropolitan Police firearms officer Martyn Blake was found not guilty of murder last October we issued a plea that his acquittal should be the end of the matter. That turns out to have been a forlorn hope.
Sgt Blake now faces disciplinary proceedings for gross misconduct following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). It concluded that the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba in 2022 may have breached professional standards regarding the use of force and warranted further action.
It was the IOPC that initially passed its findings to the Crown Prosecution Service, recommending a charge of murder. Yet the jury at the Old Bailey took just three hours to return its verdict, indicating this was a case that should not have been brought.
Now the IOPC is having another go at Sgt Blake using a lower legal test than in a criminal trial: is there sufficient evidence upon which, on the balance of probabilities, a disciplinary panel could make a finding of misconduct?
The IOPC says it is required by law to do this, but that is not true. Current guidance says that where the 'case to answer' test is met, there must be compelling reasons not to direct misconduct proceedings. Is there a more compelling reason than being found not guilty by the courts?
This feels like a witch-hunt to justify the IOPC's original decision. Sgt Blake was reinstated in his post after the acquittal and now faces further uncertainty over his future. He was part of a unit manning a roadblock intended to stop Kaba who was driving a car believed to have been involved in a shooting outside a primary school the previous evening.
The jury heard that Sgt Blake believed he or his colleagues were in danger and had a split second to make a judgment on whether to shoot. It accepted his account. That should have been the end of the matter.
As Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, said, episodes like this 'crush the spirit' of those called upon to protect the city, and make the streets more dangerous if it leads to fewer recruits.
The system holding police to account is broken and this IOPC decision must be the last made citing current guidance. It needs to change and is being reviewed by the Home Office. In the meantime, the Met should reject the IOPC's call for a disciplinary hearing and leave Sgt Blake in post.
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Frederick Forsyth, Author of ‘The Day of the Jackal,' Dies at 86
Frederick Forsyth, the internationally acclaimed British author whose talent for page-turning thrillers provided the fodder for such films as The Day of the Jackal, The Odessa File, The Dogs of War and The Fourth Protocol, died Monday. He was 86. Forsyth died at his home in Buckinghamshire, England, his literary agency Curtis Brown announced. More from The Hollywood Reporter Billy Bob Thornton Says He Didn't Expect 'Landman' to Be "This Successful" and Teases Season 2 Pippa Scott, Actress in 'The Searchers' and 'Auntie Mame,' Dies at 90 Arthur Hamilton, "Cry Me a River" Songwriter, Dies at 98 The journalist turned novelist, who saw his share of derring-do as a pilot in the Royal Air Force, was one of the most influential authors of his genre. He excited his fans for four decades, weaving topical subject matter and political machinations with edge-of-your-seat action. To do so, he used only a typewriter. No computers for him. 'I have never had an accident where I have pressed a button and accidentally sent seven chapters into cyberspace, never to be seen again,' he told the BBC in 2008. 'And have you ever tried to hack into my typewriter? It is very secure.' Forsyth hit it big right out of the gate in 1971 with The Day of the Jackal, a chilling political drama about a relentless English assassin, known only as The Jackal, hired by the OAS to assassinate French president Charles de Gaulle in 1963. In need of quick money, Forsyth drew inspiration from his first assignment as a journalist for Reuters. 'Jackal was all prepared in my head, as I had lived through being a foreign correspondent in Paris in 1962-63,' Forsyth told Publishers Weekly in 2018. 'The OAS was on the threshold of assassinating the president of France. Even at the time, I didn't think they would succeed unless they hired a real pro with a sniper rifle. Seven years later, I went back to that thought. I didn't do any preparation and wrote off the top of my head, producing 10 pages per day over 35 days, which became a novel. The only thing I researched was how to forge a British passport.' An immediate success, The Day of the Jackal spent seven weeks at No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller List throughout October and November in 1971. The following year, he received an Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America. In 1973, a Universal Pictures' adaptation, directed by Fred Zinnemann from a screenplay by Kenneth Ross, hit the big screen, with Edward Fox as the enigmatic title character. It grossed more than $16 million at the domestic box office as one of the top-grossing films of the year. (Remakes in 1997 and last year featured Bruce Willis and Eddie Redmayne as the assassin, respectively.) Forsyth's follow-up, 1972's The Odessa File, topped the Times list in 1973 for five weeks. Also set in 1963, it follows German reporter Peter Miller as he hunts for concentration camp commander Eduard Roschmann (a real SS commander Forsyth fictionalized in the book). In the process, Miller uncovers and infiltrates a secret organization — code-named Odessa — made up of former SS members. 'People had Jewish friends, good friends; Jewish employers, good employers; Jewish employees, hard workers. They obeyed the laws, they didn't hurt anyone. And here was Hitler saying they were to blame for everything,' reads one passage from the book. 'So when the vans came and took them away, people didn't do anything. They stayed out of the way, they kept quiet. They even got to believing the voice that shouted the loudest. Because that's the way people are, particularly the Germans. We're a very obedient people. It's our greatest strength and our greatest weakness. It enables us to build an economic miracle while the British are on strike, and it enables us to follow a man like Hitler into a great big mass grave.' Deftly blending elements of intrigue and suspense with an acute attention to historical detail, The Odessa File shed light on Nazi war criminals who had eluded justice. Several years after the book's release, Roschmann, whose Holocaust atrocities had earned him the nickname 'The Butcher of Riga,' was apprehended in Argentina, where he had been in exile for decades. The Odessa File was adapted at Columbia Pictures in 1974, with Jon Voight as Miller and Maximilian Schell as Roschmann. His 1974 novel The Dogs of War, about a band of mercenaries tasked with killing the president of an African country, became a 1980 film directed by John Irvin and starring Christopher Walken. The Fourth Protocol, first published in 1984 and another Times top seller, was turned into a 1987 movie starring Michael Caine and Pierce Brosnan; it's about a Cold War plot by Soviet Union outliers to plant a nuclear bomb near an American airbase. In 2016, Forsyth announced he was retiring from the world of fiction, saying his wife would no longer allow him to travel to adventurous places, but he returned to the world of intrigue with the cyber spy novel The Fox in 2018. All along, he kept his hand in the newspaper world, writing a column for the U.K.'s Daily Express well into his 80s. 'I consider myself a journalistic writer, keeping to the facts and making sure they are accurate,' Forsyth said in a 2015 interview with Crimespree Magazine. 'I do not write much emotional stuff or fancy language. My books were all contemporary current affairs based on what I had seen. Hell, I made mistakes and have done so many things, I chose to write about them, or maybe not.' Frederick McCarthy Forsyth was born on Aug. 25, 1938, in Ashford, Kent, England. His parents, Frederick and Phyllis, were shopkeepers. As he explained in 2010, Forsyth initially had little interest in his chosen craft. 'When I was a kid, I had only one overweening ambition,' he said. 'And it derived from the fact that when I was a 2-year-old, I remember staring up at what seemed like silver fish whirling and twirling in the sky, leaving contrails of white vapor. I was watching the Battle of Britain, and in my tiny little baby way, I wanted to be a pilot.' After attending the Tonbridge School in Kent and the University of Granada in Spain, Forsyth got his wish. At 19, he joined the Royal Air Force, where he piloted the de Havilland Vampire fighter jet. With aviator checked off his to-do list, Forsyth set out to see the world. As a foreign correspondent for Reuters and then the BBC, he traveled to such locales as France, East Germany and Nigeria. His time in Nigeria led to his first book. Published in 1969, The Biafra Story: The Making of an African Legend was an account of the 1967-70 Nigerian Civil War. His other books included 1979's The Devil's Alternative, 1989's The Negotiator, 1994's The Fist of God, 1996's Icon, 2003's Avenger and 2010's The Cobra. (Icon and Avenger became TV movies starring Patrick Swayze and Sam Elliott, respectively.) Forsyth also dabbled in television, most notably as the writer and presenter of the 1989 London Weekend Television series Frederick Forsyth Presents. In 2010, he dipped his toe into theater, contributing to the book for Love Never Dies, a sequel to The Phantom of the Opera featuring music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It was loosely based on his 1999 novel, The Phantom of Manhattan. In 1997, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire to commemorate his contribution to literature. His memoir, The Outsider: My Life in Intrigue, was published in 2015. Survivors include his sons, Stuart and Shane, from his 1973-88 marriage to model Carol Cunningham. His second wife, Sandy, whom he wed in 1994, died in October. 'A journalist should never join the establishment, no matter how tempting the blandishments. It is our job to hold power to account, not join it,' Forsyth said during his Crimespree interview. 'In a world that increasingly obsesses over the gods of power, money and fame, a journalist and a writer must remain detached, like a bird on a rail, watching, noting, probing, commenting, but never joining. In short, an outsider.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Journalist Shot with Explosive Device While Wearing Press Badge at L.A. Protest Shares His 'Surprise' at Officers' Escalation
British photojournalist Nick Stern was hospitalized after being struck in the leg by a police-fired explosive while covering a protest over ICE raids in Los Angeles on Saturday night, June 7 He was rushed into emergency surgery the following morning, where doctors removed a "flash bang explosive device" In an interview with PEOPLE, Stern says he was photographing a peaceful group of demonstrators waving Mexican flags when the incident occurredPhotojournalist Nick Stern is recovering after being shot with an explosive device by law enforcement while covering a protest in Los Angeles over ICE raids, despite wearing a visible press badge and carrying professional camera equipment. Speaking from his hospital bed at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center, Stern says he was 'surprised' by what he describes as a sudden escalation by deputies. 'I was photographing people who were just waving Mexican flags,' Stern tells PEOPLE. 'Then I felt this tremendous pain in my left thigh.' He is currently being treated following emergency surgery after the device became deeply embedded in his leg. The incident occurred around 9 p.m. local time on Saturday, June 7, during a protest that erupted in response to reported Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids across Southern California. Demonstrators gathered to voice opposition to immigration enforcement, prompting a strong response from law enforcement and escalating into clashes. Stern says he was standing behind a group of peaceful protesters — not hiding, not obstructing — when the shot was fired. 'I always wear my press ID around my neck so it's highly visible,' he says. 'I was carrying a large camera with a video camera attached. I make sure I'm clearly identifiable as media.' 'I was surprised they were firing anything at all,' he adds. 'Where I was standing, there was nothing more than people waving flags. I wasn't aware of anyone throwing projectiles or doing anything aggressive.' According to Stern, it was members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department who opened fire from what he describes as a 'skirmish line' formed behind their vehicles. 'There was no approach. They were just firing from a defensive position behind their cars,' he says. The projectile, later removed during surgery, was a flash bang explosive device in a hard plastic casing. 'It's about three inches long and an inch in diameter, with a rounded nose. It completely buried itself into my leg muscle. It wasn't a surface injury, it was fully embedded," he explains. Stern, who has covered protests around the world, says this isn't the first time he's been injured on the job. During the 2020 George Floyd protests, he was struck by a foam projectile — a bruise that lasted weeks, but didn't cause any permanent damage. 'That was painful, but it didn't break the skin. This one? I needed surgery.' After being hit Saturday. night, Stern says he called for help. A group of nearby protesters rushed over, carried him to the sidewalk, and flagged down a medic. 'They cut off my pants to look at the injury and applied first aid,' he recalls. 'I actually passed out from the pain.' He was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery the next morning to remove the device. Though he's eager to return home to attend his son's graduation, Stern says recovery will take time and effort. He's currently unable to walk and remains hooked up to antibiotics and a wound drainage system. 'The wound is so large they had to attach a vacuum drain to pull out fluid,' he says. 'I'll be sent home with it, connected to my leg 24/7 for at least two weeks.' One of his main concerns now is infection. Because the device was embedded so deeply and left in his body overnight, he's being closely monitored and treated with IV antibiotics. 'Fortunately, my wife is a nurse and a wound care specialist, so she can do a lot of the procedures at home,' he says. 'But right now, I can't even stand. I'm hoping physical therapy today will help determine the next step.' As for how the experience might change the way he approaches his work, Stern tells PEOPLE it's complicated. 'I'd like to say it won't change how I work,' he says while quoting world-renowned photographer Robert Capa. '(He) said, 'If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough.' That's been my philosophy. But being close puts you at risk.' 'Law enforcement in Los Angeles really needs to look at how they treat the media,' he adds. 'There's been clear targeting. Not just now, but going back to 2020. It's disgraceful that nothing has changed.' Still, Stern says the work remains essential even if the risks have become more personal. 'Your safety and health should come first. But if you lead with that, you can't do the job you're out there to do,' he says. 'Documenting what's happening in the U.S. right now is so important; socially, politically, culturally. It needs to be seen. It needs to be recorded. We can't turn away from it.' As he continues to recover, Stern says the incident has left him shaken and with lingering questions. 'I have a possible belief that they do target media, but I have nothing to prove that,' he says. Despite it all, he remains committed to the work and to telling the truth, no matter how dangerous it becomes. A representative for the L.A. Sheriff's Department said in a statement shared with PEOPLE on Monday, June 9: 'The Department is still reviewing video footage of the incident involving United Kingdom reporter Nick Stern, and it is not clear at this time whether our department was involved in this incident. After reviewing the footage involving Australian reporter Lauren Tomasi, it appears that it involved another law enforcement agency and not the Sheriff's Department.' 'We are committed to an open and transparent relationship with members of the media and are committed to ensuring they can perform their duties safely while covering events, including protests, civil disobedience, and public gatherings," the statement continues. "The LA County Sheriff's Department values its relationship with the media and remains firmly committed to transparency, especially during emergencies and critical incidents. We recognize the essential role journalists play in keeping the public accurately informed, and we strive to facilitate media access safely and effectively.' 'LASD prioritizes maintaining access for credentialed members of the press, even in restricted areas when safe to do so. Our goal is to ensure that the media can carry out its responsibilities while we uphold public safety and operational integrity,' the statement reads. 'The LASD does not condone any actions that intentionally target members of the press, and we continuously train our personnel to distinguish and respect the rights of clearly identified journalists in the field. We remain open to working with all media organizations to improve communication, transparency, and safety for all parties during public safety operations.' Read the original article on People
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
'The Day of The Jackal' author Frederick Forsyth dies aged 86
Prolific British thriller writer Frederick Forsyth, who instantly became a global bestselling author when his book "The Day of the Jackal" was published in 1971, died on Monday aged 86, his literary agents Curtis Brown said. Forsyth famously penned his most famous work about a fictional assassination attempt on French president Charles de Gaulle by right-wing extremists in just 35 days after falling on hard times. "The Jackal" went on to be made into a hit film starring Edward Fox as the assassin. A Netflix remake last year with Eddie Redmayne in the lead role was released last year. "We mourn the passing of one of the world's greatest thriller writers," his agent Jonathan Lloyd said. Forsyth died at home surrounded by his family following a brief illness, according to Curtis Brown. The former journalist and pilot wrote over 25 books including "The Odessa File" (1972) and "The Dogs of War" (1974) and sold over 75 million copies worldwide. Many of his novels were also turned into films. "Only a few weeks ago I sat with him as we watched a new and moving documentary of his life ... and was reminded of an extraordinary life, well lived," said Lloyd. "After serving as one of the youngest ever RAF pilots, he turned to journalism, using his gift for languages in German, French and Russian to become a foreign correspondent in Biafra (in Nigeria)," he said. - 'Spectacular luck' - "Appalled at what he saw and using his experience during a stint as a secret service agent, he wrote his first and perhaps most famous novel, 'The Day Of The Jackal'," he added. A sequel to "The Odessa File", entitled "Revenge Of Odessa", on which he worked with thriller writer Tony Kent, is due to be published in August, his publisher Bill Scott-Kerr said. "His journalistic background brought a rigour and a metronomic efficiency to his working practice and his nose for and understanding of a great story kept his novels both thrillingly contemporary and fresh," Scott-Kerr added. Forsyth attributed much of his success to "luck", recalling how a bullet narrowly missed him while he was covering the bloody Biafra civil war between 1967 and 1970. "I have had the most spectacular luck all through my life," he told The Times last November in an interview. "Right place, right time, right person, right contact, right promotion -- and even just turning my head away when that bullet went past," he said. Asked why he had decided to give up writing -- although he later went back to it -- he told AFP in 2016 he'd "run out of things to say". "I can't just sit at home and do a nice little romance from within my study, I have to go out and check out places like Modagishu, Guinea Bissau, both hellholes in different ways," he said. Forsyth had two sons by his first wife. His second wife, Sandy, died last year. Conservative MP David Davis paid tribute to his friend as a "fabulous wordsmith". He told Sky News that Forsyth "was a great believer in the old values -– he believed in honour and patriotism and courage and directness and straightforwardness, and a big defender of our armed forces". bur-har/jkb/ach
