Misconduct proceedings against officer who shot Chris Kaba dropped

The police officer who fatally shot Chris Kaba in south London in 2022 will not face disciplinary proceedings for misconduct, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed. Sergeant Martyn Blake shot the 24-year-old unarmed man after Kaba attempted to ram his way through police vehicles.

Blake was acquitted of murder by a jury in 2024. Proceedings related to misconduct were paused in January pending a change in legislation concerning the use of force in such cases. The IOPC stated that the new legal framework, which shifted the test from civil to criminal law standards, means actions not constituting a crime should not be deemed misconduct.

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Today's decision finally brings to an end almost four years of uncertainty for NX121, his family and the wider firearms command, with all the considerable worry and stress that has brought. We also recognise the profound impact on Chris Kaba's family, who continue to grieve their loss.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley welcomed the decision, stating it ends "almost four years of uncertainty" for Sgt Blake and his family. He described the accountability system for police officers as "disgraceful," highlighting the prolonged stress officers endure through multiple processes, including criminal trials, misconduct hearings, civil suits, and inquests. Rowley contrasted this with the single accountability process for criminals.

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No police officer is above the law, but we have been clear the system holding police to account is broken. Your life being on hold for four years or more as you go through multiple accountability processes is a disgraceful way to treat brave men and women. I also see the profound effect these cases routinely have on officers' families. Criminals are held to account once by the courts - officers can be held to account four times through criminal, misconduct, civil and inquest processes that span years. That cannot be right.

Rowley acknowledged the profound grief of Chris Kaba's family. He reiterated that since Blake's acquittal and in the absence of evidence of duty failure, the IOPC's stance was that a misconduct hearing was unwarranted. He called for the decision to be a "milestone moment" to reform the police accountability system, emphasizing that while no officer is above the law, the current process is broken.

Amanda Rowe, IOPC director of engagement, explained that while the office sought to avoid unnecessary delays, pausing proceedings to understand the impact of new legislation was appropriate. Following consideration of policy and representations from both Kaba's family and Sgt Blake, the IOPC notified them of the decision to withdraw disciplinary proceedings. A coroner will now determine whether an inquest into Kaba's death will be held.

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Having considered both our policy and the representations from the Kaba family and Sgt Blake, we have today notified them of our decision to withdraw disciplinary proceedings.