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Police censured over Menezes case Police censured over Menezes case
(20 minutes later)
London's Metropolitan Police made serious and avoidable errors in killing an innocent man, a watchdog says.London's Metropolitan Police made serious and avoidable errors in killing an innocent man, a watchdog says.
Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead by officers at Stockwell Tube station in July 2005 after being mistaken for a suicide bomber.Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead by officers at Stockwell Tube station in July 2005 after being mistaken for a suicide bomber.
An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report highlights what it says were failures in procedures and communication.An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report highlights what it says were failures in procedures and communication.
And it says Commissioner Sir Ian Blair tried to prevent its investigation.And it says Commissioner Sir Ian Blair tried to prevent its investigation.
Sir Ian has again rejected calls for his resignation.Sir Ian has again rejected calls for his resignation.
'Shoot-to-kill' The IPCC also called for a public debate over the Operation Kratos policy, which deals with the threat from suicide bombers and details how armed response teams should react.
The report says 17 witnesses said they had not heard officers shout a clear warning before opening fire. The watchdog said Operation Kratos had not been deployed on the day - but some officers had believed it had been.
It has become clearer since we wrote our report that there is much more doubt in the police service itself about the efficacy of the Kratos policy IPCC Shoot-to-kill under debateIt has become clearer since we wrote our report that there is much more doubt in the police service itself about the efficacy of the Kratos policy IPCC Shoot-to-kill under debate
IPCC chairman Nick Hardwick said: "Much has been said about the Kratos policy or so-called shoot-to-kill tactics.
"It has become clearer since we wrote our report that there is much more doubt in the police service itself about the efficacy of the Kratos policy.
"We call for a wider public debate and understanding of the tactical options for combating the threat of suicide bombers."
Rethink policies
The report says 17 witnesses said they had not heard officers shout a clear warning before opening fire.
STOCKWELL ONE REPORT IPCC Investigation into Menezes shooting [1.35MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here IPCC report recommendations Send us your comments
It also says police radios deployed on the day did not work underground, a problem that was first identified in the 1987 King's Cross fire.It also says police radios deployed on the day did not work underground, a problem that was first identified in the 1987 King's Cross fire.
The report makes 16 recommendations for change, and says the Met has already begun acting upon them.The report makes 16 recommendations for change, and says the Met has already begun acting upon them.
It also reveals that investigators had asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to look at possible charges against the two officers who shot Mr de Menezes, and the commander on the day, Cressida Dick. The CPS decided not to bring charges against the individuals.It also reveals that investigators had asked the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to look at possible charges against the two officers who shot Mr de Menezes, and the commander on the day, Cressida Dick. The CPS decided not to bring charges against the individuals.
The IPCC said the Met had to rethink policies around deploying firearms officers and critical language governing the manner in which they stopped a suspect.The IPCC said the Met had to rethink policies around deploying firearms officers and critical language governing the manner in which they stopped a suspect.
It also called for a public debate over the Operation Kratos policy, which deals with the threat from suicide bombers and details how armed response teams should react.
The watchdog said Operation Kratos had not been deployed on the day - but some officers had believed it had been.
STOCKWELL ONE REPORT IPCC Investigation into Menezes shooting [1.35MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here IPCC report recommendations Send us your comments
IPCC chairman Nick Hardwick said: "Much has been said about the Kratos policy or so-called shoot-to-kill tactics.
"It has become clearer since we wrote our report that there is much more doubt in the police service itself about the efficacy of the Kratos policy.
"We call for a wider public debate and understanding of the tactical options for combating the threat of suicide bombers."
Mr Hardwick said the IPCC's investigators believed that Sir Ian Blair played a key role in delaying their work.Mr Hardwick said the IPCC's investigators believed that Sir Ian Blair played a key role in delaying their work.
"The commissioner attempted to prevent us carrying an investigation. In my view much of the avoidable difficulty of the Stockwell incident has caused the Met Police arose from the delay in referral [to the IPCC].""The commissioner attempted to prevent us carrying an investigation. In my view much of the avoidable difficulty of the Stockwell incident has caused the Met Police arose from the delay in referral [to the IPCC]."
Deborah Glass, one of the IPCC commissioners, said the "lack of clarity" over language used by firearms officers and their superiors to sanction the shooting had to be resolved for future operations.Deborah Glass, one of the IPCC commissioners, said the "lack of clarity" over language used by firearms officers and their superiors to sanction the shooting had to be resolved for future operations.
She said armed officers in high pressure situations had to know for sure what their commanders expected of them and in the case of Stockwell this had not happened.She said armed officers in high pressure situations had to know for sure what their commanders expected of them and in the case of Stockwell this had not happened.
'Deep regret''Deep regret'
Sir Ian Blair said in a statement that he intended to remain in his post.Sir Ian Blair said in a statement that he intended to remain in his post.
The Met Police had been in possession of the report for 18 months and many of the recommendations in the report were already being acted on, he added.The Met Police had been in possession of the report for 18 months and many of the recommendations in the report were already being acted on, he added.
Sir Ian said he had "deep and very personal regret" over the death of Mr de Menezes.Sir Ian said he had "deep and very personal regret" over the death of Mr de Menezes.
He added: "The MPS has never sought to avoid accountability for the death of Jean Charles de Menezes. We killed an innocent man.He added: "The MPS has never sought to avoid accountability for the death of Jean Charles de Menezes. We killed an innocent man.
Why did Jean Charles die? A step-by-step guide to tragedyWhy did Jean Charles die? A step-by-step guide to tragedy
"Hardly a day goes by when I have not thought about how things could have been done differently and thus Mr de Menezes would still have been alive.""Hardly a day goes by when I have not thought about how things could have been done differently and thus Mr de Menezes would still have been alive."
He added that his decision to exclude IPCC investigators from the scene of the shooting after it took place was made "with the best of motives" but acknowledged that "I would not make the same decision again in similar circumstances".He added that his decision to exclude IPCC investigators from the scene of the shooting after it took place was made "with the best of motives" but acknowledged that "I would not make the same decision again in similar circumstances".
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said that the Met had already made significant progress implementing the report's recommendations, and insisted that Sir Ian retained her "full confidence".Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said that the Met had already made significant progress implementing the report's recommendations, and insisted that Sir Ian retained her "full confidence".
But Shadow Home Secretary David Davis repeated his call for the commissioner to resign.But Shadow Home Secretary David Davis repeated his call for the commissioner to resign.
He said: "This report confirms clear, systemic failings in the operation leading up to the events on 22 July, 2005.He said: "This report confirms clear, systemic failings in the operation leading up to the events on 22 July, 2005.
"Because of this, along with the need to restore public confidence and improve public safety, Sir Ian Blair's position remains untenable.""Because of this, along with the need to restore public confidence and improve public safety, Sir Ian Blair's position remains untenable."
In a statement, the Metropolitan Police Authority said it would recommend to the IPCC that no disciplinary action should be taken against Ms Dick or Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman - the UK's most senior counter terrorist-officer - over the shooting.In a statement, the Metropolitan Police Authority said it would recommend to the IPCC that no disciplinary action should be taken against Ms Dick or Assistant Commissioner Andy Hayman - the UK's most senior counter terrorist-officer - over the shooting.
The family of Mr de Menezes welcomed the report but said they had not achieved justice as no individual had been held accountable for his death.The family of Mr de Menezes welcomed the report but said they had not achieved justice as no individual had been held accountable for his death.
Their solicitor, Harriet Wistrich, said they would take the case to the European Court for Human Rights.Their solicitor, Harriet Wistrich, said they would take the case to the European Court for Human Rights.
Mr de Menezes' cousin Patricia da Silva said: "Officers have to be held accountable individually. The police have to stop with this arrogant attitude they have been taking so far."Mr de Menezes' cousin Patricia da Silva said: "Officers have to be held accountable individually. The police have to stop with this arrogant attitude they have been taking so far."
Sir Ian Blair's position was now "untenable", the family said.Sir Ian Blair's position was now "untenable", the family said.