Met suspends officer over man’s shooting
THE police officer who fired the shot that killed Chris Kaba – who was unarmed – has been suspended.
Scotland Yard initially removed the officer from frontline duties but allowed him to carry on working while the shooting was investigated. But hours after Sir Mark Rowley began work as the new Met Commissioner, vowing to restore public trust and confidence in the force, the decision was taken to suspend the officer.
It follows mounting anger over the incident and calls from Mr Kaba’s family for a swift investigation and charging decision. Mr Kaba, 24, died following a car chase in south London last week.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced a homicide investigation after confirming that Mr Kaba was unarmed at the time.
Armed police were alerted when the Audi that he was driving triggered an Automatic Number Plate Recognition camera that indicated it was involved in a recent armed incident.
The IOPC has since confirmed that Mr Kaba was not the registered owner of the vehicle. At the weekend, several hundred people held a peaceful march and demonstration to demand the officer under investigation be suspended. The decision was taken following a review of the case by senior Met officers.
Assistant Commissioner Amanda Pearson said: “Following the death of Chris Kaba, the firearms officer involved has been suspended from duty. This decision has been reached following careful consideration of a number of factors, including the significant impact on public confidence, and in light of the Independent Office for Police Conduct announcing a homicide investigation.
“Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Mr Kaba’s family and friends. We understand how concerned communities are, particularly black communities and thank those who are working closely with our local officers. We would ask those with information that could be useful in establishing what happened to contact the IOPC directly to maintain the independence of their investigation.”