Chris Kaba: Watchdog investigator defends decision that led to trial

Last month, Sgt Blake stood trial for murder. The jury came back with a not-guilty verdict after deliberating for three hours and 20 minutes.

Mr Naseem has since left the IOPC. While fully accepting the jury’s verdict, he stands by the decision to refer the case to the CPS.

“If this was textbook, then why did the Crown Prosecution Service issue such a serious charge?” he says.

“That tells you that that very initial reaction I had to watching the footage… was actually borne out by another independent body.”

The CPS said in a statement it recognises “firearms officers operate under enormous pressure, but it is our responsibility to put cases before a jury that meet our test for prosecution… We are satisfied that test was met in this case”.

Reacting to the not-guilty verdict, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said no officer was above the law but the system holding police to account was “broken”.

He said his armed officers respond to more than 4,000 incidents a year but only one or two result in shots being fired. He added that he worried about “the lack of support officers face” and “most of all I worry for the public”.

Days later, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced reforms aimed at improving police accountability, one of which involves a presumption of anonymity for firearms officers charged with criminal offences after police shootings.

Sgt Blake has now had his suspension by the Met Police lifted and the IOPC is reviewing its recommendation that he should face a gross misconduct hearing.

An inquest into the death of Mr Kaba is expected next year.

In a statement to Panorama, the Met said: “The facts of this case were tried and tested in a criminal court over two weeks. A jury of 12 men and women, having heard all of the evidence found Sgt Martyn Blake not guilty of murder.

“Our focus remains on serving and protecting the communities of London and supporting the brave men and women who step forward to do so every day.”