Police on trial for shooting suspects to be given anonymity after Chris Kaba marksman forced into hiding

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Following the verdict, Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the police accountability system was “broken” and expressed concerns it might lead to a loss of morale among firearms officers. “So we will therefore introduce a presumption of anonymity for firearms officers subject to criminal trial following a police shooting in the course of their professional duties, up to the point of conviction.” It would make keeping the officer’s identity hidden the starting point for judges, who would still be able to consider applications for this to be overturned. Giving the police license to kill without proper accountability is a dangerous step.” Fellow STR campaigner Sabby Dhalu added: “Naming police officers charged for shooting people is in the public interest.” Meanwhile former Metropolitan Police superintendent Leroy Logan, a founding member of the Black Police Association, insisted armed units need a higher level of scrutiny. The reality is that there are less chances of armed officers deescalating situations involving Black people, as we saw in the Chris Kaba case and similar others.” Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mark Rowley issued a statement after Martyn Blake was acquitted Other measures proposed by Ms Cooper include a rapid independent review of legal thresholds for use of force in misconduct and coronial proceedings and the creation of a database of “lessons learned” from deaths or serious injury after police contact.