Peter Parka
Well-Known Member
Police guilty over Menezes case
London's Metropolitan police force has been found guilty of endangering the public over the shooting dead of a man officers mistook for a suicide bomber. The force broke health and safety laws when officers pursued Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes to a Tube station and shot him seven times, a jury found.
It was fined £175,000 with £385,000 costs over the 22 July 2005 shooting.
The Old Bailey jury said police chief Cressida Dick, who led the operation, bore "no personal culpability".
Ms Dick, now deputy assistant commissioner of the force, had been accused by prosecutors of failing to keep control of her officers.
Despite calls for his resignation, Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said outside court that he was not resigning.
The unprecedented, highly controversial trial came after prosecutors said that no individual officer could be held responsible for the electrician's death at Stockwell Underground station.
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.
'Unstoppable force'
Speaking outside the Old Bailey, Mr de Menezes's relatives said they wanted to see a "full and thorough" inquest into his death.
Harriet Wistrich, the family's solicitor, said the police had been an "unstoppable force" when they pursued him, and the defence had "descended to the gutter" to blacken his name.
In a statement, Len Duvall, chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), said: "We ask the police to do a difficult job on our behalf and sometimes they make mistakes."
He said the MPA fully supported Sir Ian and would continue to work with him.
But the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have called for the commissioner to resign.
Nick Clegg, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, said: "This guilty verdict makes it unavoidable that Ian Blair should take responsibility on behalf of his whole organisation and resign."
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said Sir Ian's position was "untenable".
"This was a serial failure of organisation, training, tactics and resourcing," he added.
But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith dismissed the calls, insisting Sir Ian had her "full confidence" and support.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said the guilty verdict made it more difficult for police to protect the capital against terrorism.
"Police officers must not fear that they will be second-guessed by those operating with all the benefit of hindsight and by legislation not designed for such situations," Mr Livingstone said.
Nick Hardwick, chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, said he hoped that his organisation's report into the shooting would be published within days.
'Isolated breach'
During the trial, 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.
Sir Ian had warned before the trial began that a guilty verdict would have profound effects on policing.
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.
After the verdict was delivered, Mr Justice Henriques said: "This was very much an isolated breach brought about by quite extraordinary circumstances.
"One person died and many others were placed in potential danger."
In deciding on a penalty, the judge said he was aware that a heavy fine would result in a loss to the public purse and a reduction in essential policing.
Failures
The operation began when detectives investigating the failed suicide bombings of the day before - 21 July - 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.
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.
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 Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it hoped to publish its full report into the case within days, but "disciplinary issues" were still to be decided.
Chairman Nick Hardwick said the body appreciated the courage of some of the officers involved, but added: "However, the Met's mission is to make London safer. On this one occasion, they failed."
The trial and investigation is estimated to have cost around £3.5 million in public money.
Story from BBC NEWS:
Finally, at last some sort of guilty. The officers responsible should be tried for murder. Its scary to think you could be walking about innocently and unarmed and the Police who are supposed to protect you can just come up and execute you in cold blood in front of loads of people including small children!
London's Metropolitan police force has been found guilty of endangering the public over the shooting dead of a man officers mistook for a suicide bomber. The force broke health and safety laws when officers pursued Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes to a Tube station and shot him seven times, a jury found.
It was fined £175,000 with £385,000 costs over the 22 July 2005 shooting.
The Old Bailey jury said police chief Cressida Dick, who led the operation, bore "no personal culpability".
Ms Dick, now deputy assistant commissioner of the force, had been accused by prosecutors of failing to keep control of her officers.
Despite calls for his resignation, Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said outside court that he was not resigning.
The unprecedented, highly controversial trial came after prosecutors said that no individual officer could be held responsible for the electrician's death at Stockwell Underground station.
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.
'Unstoppable force'
Speaking outside the Old Bailey, Mr de Menezes's relatives said they wanted to see a "full and thorough" inquest into his death.
Harriet Wistrich, the family's solicitor, said the police had been an "unstoppable force" when they pursued him, and the defence had "descended to the gutter" to blacken his name.
In a statement, Len Duvall, chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), said: "We ask the police to do a difficult job on our behalf and sometimes they make mistakes."
He said the MPA fully supported Sir Ian and would continue to work with him.
But the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives have called for the commissioner to resign.
Nick Clegg, Lib Dem home affairs spokesman, said: "This guilty verdict makes it unavoidable that Ian Blair should take responsibility on behalf of his whole organisation and resign."
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said Sir Ian's position was "untenable".
"This was a serial failure of organisation, training, tactics and resourcing," he added.
But Home Secretary Jacqui Smith dismissed the calls, insisting Sir Ian had her "full confidence" and support.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said the guilty verdict made it more difficult for police to protect the capital against terrorism.
"Police officers must not fear that they will be second-guessed by those operating with all the benefit of hindsight and by legislation not designed for such situations," Mr Livingstone said.
Nick Hardwick, chairman of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, said he hoped that his organisation's report into the shooting would be published within days.
'Isolated breach'
During the trial, 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.
Sir Ian had warned before the trial began that a guilty verdict would have profound effects on policing.
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.
After the verdict was delivered, Mr Justice Henriques said: "This was very much an isolated breach brought about by quite extraordinary circumstances.
"One person died and many others were placed in potential danger."
In deciding on a penalty, the judge said he was aware that a heavy fine would result in a loss to the public purse and a reduction in essential policing.
Failures
The operation began when detectives investigating the failed suicide bombings of the day before - 21 July - 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.
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.
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 Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it hoped to publish its full report into the case within days, but "disciplinary issues" were still to be decided.
Chairman Nick Hardwick said the body appreciated the courage of some of the officers involved, but added: "However, the Met's mission is to make London safer. On this one occasion, they failed."
The trial and investigation is estimated to have cost around £3.5 million in public money.
Story from BBC NEWS:
Finally, at last some sort of guilty. The officers responsible should be tried for murder. Its scary to think you could be walking about innocently and unarmed and the Police who are supposed to protect you can just come up and execute you in cold blood in front of loads of people including small children!
