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Police guilty over Menezes case Police guilty over Menezes case
(10 minutes later)
London's police force has been found guilty of breaking health and safety laws over the shooting dead of a man officers mistook for a suicide bomber.London's police force has been found guilty of breaking health and safety laws over the shooting dead of a man officers mistook for a suicide bomber.
The Metropolitan Police unnecessarily put the public at risk in chasing Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes across the city, a jury decided.The Metropolitan Police unnecessarily put the public at risk in chasing Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes across the city, a jury decided.
Armed police shot Mr de Menezes shot seven times in the head at Stockwell Tube station on 22 July 2005. Armed police shot Mr de Menezes seven times at Stockwell Tube station on 22 July 2005.
The force has been fined £175,000 and ordered to pay £385,000 in costs.The force has been fined £175,000 and ordered to pay £385,000 in costs.
The Old Bailey jury said police chief Cressida Dick, who led the operation, bore "no personal culpability".The Old Bailey jury said police chief Cressida Dick, who led the operation, bore "no personal culpability".
In a statement, Len Duvall, chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), said policing in London was "a tough business".In a statement, Len Duvall, chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), said policing in London was "a tough business".
"We ask the police to do a difficult job on our behalf and sometimes they make mistakes," Mr Duvall said."We ask the police to do a difficult job on our behalf and sometimes they make mistakes," Mr Duvall said.
Why did Jean Charles die? A step-by-step guide to killingWhy did Jean Charles die? A step-by-step guide to killing
"This case led to the tragic death of an innocent man. Our ultimate aim is to make sure we all learn from this tragedy.""This case led to the tragic death of an innocent man. Our ultimate aim is to make sure we all learn from this tragedy."
The MPA said it fully supported Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and would continue to work with him.The MPA said it fully supported Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair and would continue to work with him.
But the Liberal Democrats have called for Sir Ian to resign.But the Liberal Democrats have called for Sir Ian to resign.
The party's president Simon Hughes said: "I think it has very severe implications for the Met Police.The party's president Simon Hughes said: "I think it has very severe implications for the Met Police.
"This was a collective failure of responsibility, a collective breach of the law, and both the police service, led by the commissioner, and the police authority, who are the politically accountable people, will have some very severe questions to answer, and rightfully so.""This was a collective failure of responsibility, a collective breach of the law, and both the police service, led by the commissioner, and the police authority, who are the politically accountable people, will have some very severe questions to answer, and rightfully so."
'Risk to public'
The unprecedented, highly controversial trial came after prosecutors said that no individual officer could be held responsible for the electrician's death.The unprecedented, highly controversial trial came after prosecutors said that no individual officer could be held responsible for the electrician's death.
Instead, they said the force, represented by the Met Commissioner's Office, should be tried for failing to protect the public from the risks posed by a suspected suicide bomber on the loose.Instead, they said the force, represented by the Met Commissioner's Office, should be tried for failing to protect the public from the risks posed by a suspected suicide bomber on the loose.
The Met vehemently denied the allegation during the trial, saying that there was no case for it to answer.The Met vehemently denied the allegation during the trial, saying that there was no case for it to answer.
But Clare Montgomery QC, prosecuting, told the jury that Scotland Yard commanders had made a string of errors on 22 July that culminated in an unwarranted risk to the public and ultimately the death of Mr de Menezes.But Clare Montgomery QC, prosecuting, told the jury that Scotland Yard commanders had made a string of errors on 22 July that culminated in an unwarranted risk to the public and ultimately the death of Mr de Menezes.
Health and safety
Sir Ian had warned before the trial began that a guilty verdict would have profound effects on policing.Sir Ian had warned before the trial began that a guilty verdict would have profound effects on policing.
Cressida Dick led the Met Police operation
He said officers would be left in a difficult position of not being able to use their judgement in emergency situations, out of fear of breaking the law.He said officers would be left in a difficult position of not being able to use their judgement in emergency situations, out of fear of breaking the law.
But during his summing up, Mr Justice Henriques told the jury they needed to focus on the key events of the day. Mr Justice Henriques
"It was not appropriate to say this case may have an influence on the way police throughout the country may carry out their work in the future," he told the jury.
"Your concern is the past and what happened on July 22, nothing more, nothing less."
FailuresFailures
The operation began when detectives investigating the failed suicide bombings of the previous day linked one of the suspects, Hussain Osman, to a block of flats in south London.The operation began when detectives investigating the failed suicide bombings of the previous day linked one of the suspects, Hussain Osman, to a block of flats in south London.
Mr de Menezes also lived in the block, and when he left home at 0930 BST, surveillance officers were unsure if he was their target.Mr de Menezes also lived in the block, and when he left home at 0930 BST, surveillance officers were unsure if he was their target.
Ms Montgomery told the court the situation had worsened because senior officers failed to keep to their own agreed plan, while firearms teams were both poorly briefed and in the wrong locations.Ms Montgomery told the court the situation had worsened because senior officers failed to keep to their own agreed plan, while firearms teams were both poorly briefed and in the wrong locations.
This meant that it became impossible to effectively stop the suspected suicide bomber before he boarded a bus and headed for the underground system.This meant that it became impossible to effectively stop the suspected suicide bomber before he boarded a bus and headed for the underground system.
The Met denied this, saying its commanders and officers on the ground did all they could to apprehend the bombers and minimise the risks to the public.The Met denied this, saying its commanders and officers on the ground did all they could to apprehend the bombers and minimise the risks to the public.