Insanity... Suella Braverman hits out at new probe into officer who shot dead gangster Chris Kaba
Suella Braverman has called a gross misconduct hearing into a firearms officer cleared of murdering gangster Chris Kaba the 'definition of insanity'.
The former home secretary criticised the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) after the watchdog last week said Sergeant Martyn Blake would face an inquiry over the death of Kaba in September 2022.
In October an Old Bailey jury found Sgt Blake, 41, not guilty of murder after he had shot Kaba in the head as he tried to force his way out of a police vehicle stop in Streatham, south London.
The gangster's car had been involved in a shooting the previous day and he was linked to a similar incident the week before.
The jury had not been told of Kaba's criminality and violent past. Two of Sgt Blake's colleagues also gave evidence saying they were just 'milliseconds' away from firing at Kaba, 24, when he tried to use his powerful Audi Q8 to ram through the blockade.
Dozens of Metropolitan Police marksmen downed tools in protest when Sgt Blake was charged with murder, which led to the Army being put on standby.
Ms Braverman last night said the IOPC had thrown Sgt Blake 'under a bus' and warned the issue is causing officers to leave 'in droves'. Her sentiments were echoed by two former chief constables.
Ms Braverman told The Mail on Sunday: 'The IOPC announcement is the definition of insanity and will mean fewer firearms officers on the streets. Sgt Martyn Blake has been cleared in a court of law and is effectively being tried twice.
'We should be supporting our brave police officers, not throwing them under a bus. It's no wonder police officers are leaving the force in droves.'
She also urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to 'stop this witch hunt'.
Sir Peter Fahy, a former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police, said: 'I don't think [the IOPC] really understands the profound degree of trauma this guy has gone through for doing his job.'
Mike Barton, the former chief constable of Durham Constabulary, added: 'There is a real irony that the officer who is at the centre of all this had milliseconds to make a decision, but everybody else who is trying to second guess what should have been done are taking years to do this.'
Last week IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: 'We acknowledge the significant public interest in this case.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
4 hours ago
- The Independent
Man charged with murder after disappearance of Colombian woman
A man has been charged with murder after a Colombian woman disappeared after leaving her east London home. Yajaira Castro Mendez, 46, was reported missing to the Metropolitan Police on Saturday May 31 having left her home in Ilford on the morning of Thursday May 29. Police were at a scene in Gray's Inn Road, Camden, on Friday as part of their investigation into the incident. Juan Toledo, 51, of south-east London, appeared at Barkingside Magistrates' Court on the same day charged with her murder. Scotland Yard said the man, who was arrested on Tuesday, is known to Ms Castro Mendez. Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, who leads policing in Camden, said: 'Officers have been working around the clock to find Yajaira. She has not been seen or heard from by her family or friends since the date she was reported missing. 'Yajaira's disappearance was initially treated as a missing person investigation led by local officers. 'The investigation was then transferred to the Met's Specialist Crime Command on Thursday (June 5) after a range of extensive further inquiries very sadly suggested she has come to harm. 'Yajaira's family continue to be supported by specialist officers, and we are keeping them updated with developments. 'Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances and there are crime scenes in place across Camden and Lambeth. 'We thank the community for their patience while we carry out our inquiries and ask that any one with information please comes forward.' Anyone with information relating to Ms Castro Mendez's disappearance is asked to contact police via 101 or @MetCC quoting CAD 3020/06JUN25, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Met police launch murder probe after woman, 46, disappeared in Ilford- as man known to her appears in court
A man has appeared in court after a woman vanished in Ilford amid police launching a murder probe. Yajaira Castro Mendez, 46, was reported missing to the Metropolitan Police last Saturday, May 31. She was last known to have left her home three days prior on the morning of May 29. Today, a man known to the Colombian national appeared in court charged with her murder, as the force continue to appeal for information from the public. Ms Mendez's disappearance was initially treated as a missing persons investigation, but was taken up by a specialist unit yesterday after further enquiries suggested she has come to harm. Her family are currently being supported by specialist officers. Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, who leads policing in Camden, said: 'Officers have been working around the clock to find Yajaira. 'She has not been seen or heard from by her family or friends since the date she was reported missing. 'Yajaira's disappearance was initially treated as a missing person investigation led by local officers. 'The investigation was then transferred to the Met's Specialist Crime Command on Thursday, 5 June after a range of extensive further enquiries very sadly suggested she has come to harm. 'I understand the impact this news may have on our local community, however we do have a man charged and in custody and we are not searching for anyone else at this stage. The man and Yajaira are believed to be known to each other. 'Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances and there are crime scenes in place across Camden and Lambeth. 'We thank the community for their patience while we carry out our enquiries and ask that any one with information please comes forward.' Anyone with information relating to Ms Mendez's disappearance has been urged to contact the police via 101 or @MetCC quoting CAD 3020/06JUN25. Alternatively you can remain anonymous by calling the independent Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or by visiting
The Sun
7 hours ago
- The Sun
Man charged with ‘murder' after missing woman, 46, left her home a week ago and hasn't been seen since
A MAN has been charged with murder after a woman vanished from her home a week ago. Yajaira Castro Mendez, 46, was reported missing to police on Saturday, May 31. The Colombian national was last seen leaving her house on Thursday, May 29. Cops have now charged a man known to the her with murder. Yajaira's disappearance was treated as a missing person investigation at first. The case was taken on by the Metropolitan Police Specialist Crime Command yesterday. This came after further investigation "sadly suggested she has come to harm". Yajaira's heartbroken family are being supported by specialist officers. A Met Police spokesperson said: "Today, a man known to her appeared in court charged with her murder, and detectives are appealing for anyone with information to come forward." Chief Superintendent Jason Stewart, who leads policing in Camden, said: 'Officers have been working around the clock to find Yajaira. "She has not been seen or heard from by her family or friends since the date she was reported missing. 'Yajaira's disappearance was initially treated as a missing person investigation led by local officers. "The investigation was then transferred to the Met's Specialist Crime Command on Thursday, 5 June after a range of extensive further enquiries very sadly suggested she has come to harm. Yajaira's family continue to be supported by specialist officers, and we are keeping them updated with developments. 'I understand the impact this news may have on our local community, however we do have a man charged and in custody and we are not searching for anyone else at this stage. The man and Yajaira are believed to be known to each other. 'Detectives continue to investigate the circumstances and there are crime scenes in place across Camden and Lambeth. "We thank the community for their patience while we carry out our enquiries and ask that any one with information please comes forward.' Yajaira is a Colombian national who has been residing in the UK. Officers are appealing for anyone with any information relating to Yajaira's disappearance to contact police via 101 or @MetCC quoting CAD 3020/06JUN25. To remain 100 per cent anonymous call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit 1
