Met chief pens open letter defending armed cops after Chris Kaba murder charge

The Met Commissioner has demanded an 'urgent reset' for armed police in an open letter to the Home Secretary Suella Braverman, published on Twitter, in which he defended his officers.

Sir Mark Rowley tonight says he supports her review as he called for reform of the system. She has launched an examination after a growing number of Scotland Yard officers handed in their weapons in the wake of an unnamed officer being charged with the murder of Chris Kaba last week.

The Commissioner explained that an “urgent reset is needed to address accountability mechanisms, including the policies and practices of the Independent Office for Police Conduct and the Crown Prosecution Service" and said it would ideally "focus on the threshold for police use of force and involvement in pursuits”.

Chris Kaba, 24, was shot and killed by an officer in south London last year (PA Media)

Suella Braverman has launched a review and now has backing (Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)

He wrote: “I am concerned that we have let a situation develop where frontline officers now routinely tell me they are more afraid of the legal processes that will follow from an incident than they are of confronting dangerous or armed criminals and terrorists. This puts the public and officers at risk."

Sir Mark said the Met responds to around 4,000 armed incidents every year, with officers discharging firearms on two or fewer occasions. “Any case where someone loses their life is clearly devastating for their family, friends, and wider community. It is right that they are properly investigated in a way which improves confidence. I do not believe the current situation delivers this,” he said.

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He explained that an “urgent reset is needed to address accountability mechanisms, including the policies and practices of the Independent Office for Police Conduct and the Crown Prosecution Service, ideally with a focus on the threshold for police use of force and involvement in pursuits”.

Sir Mark said: "We would welcome consideration of the following changes to regulations or primary legislation: Amendments to ensure the application of the subjective criminal law test for self-defence in police misconduct and coronial inquests, not the civil test. One simple test will avoid delay, simplify the process and provide better protection for the public.

"Changes to the threshold at which the IOPC can launch criminal or misconduct investigations. Too often investigations are announced when only a minimal interrogation of the facts has taken place, damaging public confidence, only for further enquiries to establish criminality or wrongdoing either wasn’t borne out at the level initially suggested, or at any level at all.

"We would welcome the review considering the following issues of policy and practice in organisations handling cases of police complaints or use of force: The introduction, by the CPS, of a policy presumption that police officers who use force in the execution of their duty, and in accordance with their training, will not ordinarily face prosecution.

"The introduction of time limits for the IOPC and CPS in order to reduce the punitive impact on officers of length investigatory and legal processes and ensure the public see rapid resolutions where wrongdoing has occurred.

"Improving the balance in communications and the release of information following an incident to ensure public confidence in policing is emphasised and matters which may cause community tensions are managed more effectively."

A Metropolitan Police officer appeared in court on Thursday over the fatal shooting. The force last week acknowledged the situation has prompted "a number of officers" to "step back from armed duties while they consider their position".

The Home Secretary announced she has ordered a review of armed policing after officers handed in their guns over concern about one of their colleagues being charged with the murder of Mr Kaba. Ms Braverman wrote on twitter "We depend on our brave firearms officers to protect us from the most dangerous & violent in society.

"In the interest of public safety they have to make split-second decisions under extraordinary pressures. They mustn't fear ending up in the dock for carrying out their duties. Officers risking their lives to keep us safe have my full backing & I will do everything in my power to support them. That's why I have launched a review to ensure they have the confidence to do their jobs while protecting us all."