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| Met Police admits failing to review Duggan stop tactic | Met Police admits failing to review Duggan stop tactic |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| The Metropolitan Police has admitted it failed to formally review its use of the 'hard stop' tactic deployed in the shooting of Mark Duggan in 2011. | The Metropolitan Police has admitted it failed to formally review its use of the 'hard stop' tactic deployed in the shooting of Mark Duggan in 2011. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission had recommended a review in 2005, saying it was "high-risk". | The Independent Police Complaints Commission had recommended a review in 2005, saying it was "high-risk". |
| The force says it is "constantly looking at the tactic". | The force says it is "constantly looking at the tactic". |
| It comes as officers from the unit that killed Mr Duggan told BBC Panorama they would kill again if they thought their colleagues were about to die. | It comes as officers from the unit that killed Mr Duggan told BBC Panorama they would kill again if they thought their colleagues were about to die. |
| The 'hard stop' tactic is a pre-planned operation during which armed, plain-clothed officers in police vehicles deliberately intercept a vehicle to confront suspects. | The 'hard stop' tactic is a pre-planned operation during which armed, plain-clothed officers in police vehicles deliberately intercept a vehicle to confront suspects. |
| It has resulted in three controversial fatal police shootings; Duggan in 2011, the unlawful killing of suspected drug dealer Azelle Rodney in 2005 and the shooting of unarmed Anthony Grainger in Manchester in 2012. | It has resulted in three controversial fatal police shootings; Duggan in 2011, the unlawful killing of suspected drug dealer Azelle Rodney in 2005 and the shooting of unarmed Anthony Grainger in Manchester in 2012. |
| On 16 January it was announced that the Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, Sir Peter Fahy, will be prosecuted on health and safety grounds over the death of Mr Grainger. But the officer who shot him will not face any charges. | |
| The 'hard stop' tactic was also used on Mark Duggan. He was shot dead by armed officers in August 2011 in Tottenham, north London, sparking riots across England. | The 'hard stop' tactic was also used on Mark Duggan. He was shot dead by armed officers in August 2011 in Tottenham, north London, sparking riots across England. |
| On 8 January, an inquest jury concluded by a majority of eight to two that he was lawfully killed by police who shot him after surrounding the minicab he was travelling in after collecting a gun. | On 8 January, an inquest jury concluded by a majority of eight to two that he was lawfully killed by police who shot him after surrounding the minicab he was travelling in after collecting a gun. |
| Mr Duggan's family have said he was "executed" and that they will fight for justice. | Mr Duggan's family have said he was "executed" and that they will fight for justice. |
| 'High risk option' | 'High risk option' |
| A private recommendation which was left out of the official IPCC report to the Met following the fatal shooting of suspected drug dealer Azelle Rodney, described 'hard stops' as a "high risk option" especially for suspects. | A private recommendation which was left out of the official IPCC report to the Met following the fatal shooting of suspected drug dealer Azelle Rodney, described 'hard stops' as a "high risk option" especially for suspects. |
| The recommendation said: "If their compliance and surrender is not virtually instantaneous… the risks to the suspect are considerable". | The recommendation said: "If their compliance and surrender is not virtually instantaneous… the risks to the suspect are considerable". |
| The IPCC has a statutory obligation to investigate all fatal police shootings. | The IPCC has a statutory obligation to investigate all fatal police shootings. |
| However, the watchdog does not have enforcement powers and can only offer advice. It is up to the police whether they follow it. | However, the watchdog does not have enforcement powers and can only offer advice. It is up to the police whether they follow it. |
| The Met's Assistant Commissioner, Mark Rowley, has defended the force's failure to follow the IPCC's recommendation. | The Met's Assistant Commissioner, Mark Rowley, has defended the force's failure to follow the IPCC's recommendation. |
| "Perhaps some formal paperwork and formal thinking should have been done at the time - it wasn't but we're constantly looking at the tactic. | "Perhaps some formal paperwork and formal thinking should have been done at the time - it wasn't but we're constantly looking at the tactic. |
| "If anyone has a better idea on how you confront armed criminals in vehicles with a view to arresting them safely and seizing their weapons then we're up for better ideas," he said. | "If anyone has a better idea on how you confront armed criminals in vehicles with a view to arresting them safely and seizing their weapons then we're up for better ideas," he said. |
| "People say review, people don't come forward with better ideas." | "People say review, people don't come forward with better ideas." |
| No significant changes to how the Met was carrying out 'hard stops' had been made by the time Mark Duggan was killed in 2011. | No significant changes to how the Met was carrying out 'hard stops' had been made by the time Mark Duggan was killed in 2011. |
| BBC Panorama has exclusively spoken to two police officers from the firearms unit that killed Mr Duggan. | BBC Panorama has exclusively spoken to two police officers from the firearms unit that killed Mr Duggan. |
| While they were not involved in his shooting, both officers have killed armed suspects before. | While they were not involved in his shooting, both officers have killed armed suspects before. |
| The shootings they carried out were later ruled to have been justified but they faced months of investigation. | The shootings they carried out were later ruled to have been justified but they faced months of investigation. |
| One officer said: "I killed someone because I thought my colleagues and I were about to die. | One officer said: "I killed someone because I thought my colleagues and I were about to die. |
| "It's extremely difficult, especially when you think that you're doing the right thing and you're being trained to do something to protect the public and protect your colleagues... you then face the potential of prosecution." | "It's extremely difficult, especially when you think that you're doing the right thing and you're being trained to do something to protect the public and protect your colleagues... you then face the potential of prosecution." |
| He also said if the situation was 'exactly the same' he would do it again. | He also said if the situation was 'exactly the same' he would do it again. |
| The second officer told the BBC: "All the training in the world will not prepare you for dealing with having to kill someone. It's absolutely horrendous." | The second officer told the BBC: "All the training in the world will not prepare you for dealing with having to kill someone. It's absolutely horrendous." |
| As part of the Met Police's most elite firearms unit, both officers are trained in the 'hard stop' tactic. | As part of the Met Police's most elite firearms unit, both officers are trained in the 'hard stop' tactic. |
| That is more than eight years after the IPCC recommended the force review it. | That is more than eight years after the IPCC recommended the force review it. |
| IPCC deputy chair Deborah Glass said: "I think moral persuasion is an extremely powerful sanction and the questions will be asked.... if we have to make a recommendation twice, then I think there is a legitimate question to be said... why don't you make, give, effect this the first time round?" | IPCC deputy chair Deborah Glass said: "I think moral persuasion is an extremely powerful sanction and the questions will be asked.... if we have to make a recommendation twice, then I think there is a legitimate question to be said... why don't you make, give, effect this the first time round?" |
| She also said: "It is not for the IPCC to enforce recommendations." | She also said: "It is not for the IPCC to enforce recommendations." |
| 'Disproportionate' | 'Disproportionate' |
| But some campaigners are not happy with police forces using the tactic. | But some campaigners are not happy with police forces using the tactic. |
| Deborah Coles, director of charity Inquest, which advises bereaved people facing an inquest, says: "I think the key ingredients in these cases have been the most confrontational and aggressive form of response that has too often been disproportionate to the risk posed and has also placed the public at potential risk." | Deborah Coles, director of charity Inquest, which advises bereaved people facing an inquest, says: "I think the key ingredients in these cases have been the most confrontational and aggressive form of response that has too often been disproportionate to the risk posed and has also placed the public at potential risk." |
| But Mr Rowley defended the force's use of the tactic: "If we've got intelligence about gang criminals carrying guns across London to go and shoot others, we have to plan operations to confront that threat," | But Mr Rowley defended the force's use of the tactic: "If we've got intelligence about gang criminals carrying guns across London to go and shoot others, we have to plan operations to confront that threat," |
| "We never want to run an operation that results in someone's death but we can't shirk from the responsibility." | "We never want to run an operation that results in someone's death but we can't shirk from the responsibility." |
| Panorama: Shooting to Kill? BBC One, Monday 20 January at 20:30 GMT and then available in the UK on the BBC iPlayer. | Panorama: Shooting to Kill? BBC One, Monday 20 January at 20:30 GMT and then available in the UK on the BBC iPlayer. |