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The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has announced that Sgt Martyn Blake, the Metropolitan Police officer who shot Chris Kaba in Streatham, south London, in 2022, will not face misconduct proceedings. Blake fired the shot that killed 24-year-old Kaba after he attempted to ram police vehicles. Earlier in 2024, Blake was acquitted of murder at trial.
In January, the IOPC decided to pause any disciplinary actions against Blake until a change in the law concerning the use of force in police misconduct cases came into effect and its implications were fully understood. This legislative adjustment, which was implemented in June, shifted the standard for assessing use of force from a civil law test to a criminal law test. This means that conduct not amounting to a criminal offence should not be considered misconduct either.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described the IOPC’s ruling as the conclusion to “almost four years of uncertainty” for Blake, his family, and colleagues. He labelled the accountability process for police officers as “disgraceful” and highlighted the strain it caused. Rowley emphasised, “No police officer is above the law, but we have been clear the system holding police to account is broken.” He further noted that while criminals are held accountable just once through the courts, police officers often face multiple overlapping processes – criminal, misconduct, civil, and inquests – which can last for many years and impose lengthy hardships on officers and their families.
Amanda Rowe, the IOPC director of engagement, stated that the organisation had sought to prevent unnecessary delays but agreed that pausing proceedings was appropriate until the impact of new legislation was clarified. She confirmed that both Blake and the Kaba family had been informed about the decision to withdraw disciplinary measures. The coroner will now determine whether an inquest into Chris Kaba’s death will proceed. However, the decision was met with criticism from the Justice for Chris Kaba Campaign and the charity Inquest, both of which warned that it was a setback for Kaba’s family and feared it sent a message allowing police to act with impunity. Conversely, Paula Dodds, chairwoman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, supported the IOPC’s ruling, saying it was the right outcome after years of legal scrutiny for the officer involved.
City Hall Conservative Leader Susan Hall AM also welcomed the IOPC’s decision, condemning the investigation as “disgraceful” and accusing the Mayor and IOPC of failing to support police officers adequately. She said the officer had been “let down at every stage” and demanded accountability within the organisations responsible
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