A Metropolitan police marksman who shot dead a man preparing to break two prisoners free from court ‘faces the sack’ despite being cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.
The officer, known only as W80, was never charged over the death of gangster Jermaine Baker, 28, after he used his weapon to kill Baker in a police operation in December 2015.
The Telegraph reports Baker was preparing to spring two prisoners from Wood Green Crown Court.
W80 faced no charges over the death but it’s reported the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) is due to reveal the firearms officer will face a ‘gross misconduct hearing that could result in him being sacked’.
The decision could lead to further friction between armed police and commanders as it comes a week after another firearms officer, known as NX121, was charged with the murder of Chris Kaba who died after being shot.
Mr Kaba, 24, who had been shot at through the window of his car in September last year. The incident had taken place in Streatham in south London, with the incident culminating in the dad-to-be’s death.
At the weekend around 300 police officers issued with firearms laid down their weapons in response to the decision to charge NX121.
During the crisis the MoD was put on standby for the army to cover counter-terrorism operations at a time when the alert rating for the UK, excluding Northern Ireland, stands at substantial.
According to the Telegraph the IOPC announcement relating to W80 could be made today (Thursday).
One source within armed policing told the paper: “The timing of this announcement is unfortunate to say the least. There are thousands of firearms officers right across the country contemplating their future right now.
“Not only do they risk being charged with murder when things go wrong, but even if they are cleared by the courts they could still be sacked for gross misconduct.
“The system is unfair and it doesn’t make any sense. How can you be cleared of wrongdoing by one system but found guilty in another?
The Prime Minister has said armed police need “clarity” about the legal powers they have as he backed a Home Office review after the officer was charged with the murder of Chris Kaba.
The Met said on Monday that the majority of armed officers on duty in London were still from the force, as it denied rumours that all its firearms officers had stepped back from their duties.
The force’s commissioner Sir Mark Rowley welcomed a review into the situation, which Home Secretary Suella Braverman said she had ordered to ensure armed officers “have the confidence to do their job”.
The Scotland Yard chief said armed officers needed “sufficient legal protection to enable them to do their job”.
Rishi Sunak said it “wouldn’t be right” for him to comment on the case of the unnamed officer charged over the shooting of unarmed rapper Mr Kaba.
But the Conservative Party leader said the guidance to firearms patrols needed to be reviewed to “make sure it is robust” and that it commands both public and police confidence.
