Met guilty over de Menezes death
Thursday, 01 Nov 2007 20:19
Jean Charles de Menezes was shot at Stockwell tube station
London's Metropolitan police have been found guilty today of health and safety breaches that led to the shooting of innocent Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes.
Despite the verdict, Met chief commissioner Sir Ian Blair said he would not be stepping down as a result.
The prosecution at the Old Bailey said a series of "catastrophic" errors led to the death of Mr de Menezes at Stockwell tube station in south London.
He was shot seven times in the head after being mistakenly identified as a suicide bomber on July 22nd 2005.
The Met was found guilty of failing to protect the public, including Mr De Menezes, from risk during the operation at Stockwell. It must pay a £175,000 fine and an additional £385,000 in costs.
However, the jury added an unusual caveat that no personal responsibility for the death was attributed to Cressida Dick, the officer in charge of the operation, or any other officer in the case.
Family member Erinaldo da Silva said Mr De Menezes' mother was "utterly pleased" by the verdict and pledged that "we remain intent to ensure the full truth about Jean Charles' death [will come out]" in a "full and thorough inquest".
Meanwhile family spokesperson Harriet Wistrich criticised the Met's shoot-to-kill policy and its decision to plead not guilty in the case.
"The police defence team descended to the gutter, seeking to shift the blame on to the victims. We deplore the tactics of the defence and the smearing of Jean Charles' name," she said.
"Questions must be asked of a firearms strategy that effectively became an unstoppable machine intent on extinguishing life from an unarmed suspect."
Today's ruling has increased the pressure on Sir Ian Blair to resign, with both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats calling for him to step down.
"His position is now untenable, in light of these findings and the overriding need to restore public confidence," shadow home secretary David Davis said.
But speaking outside the court Sir Ian was adamant that he would not step down, but "take time" to consider the verdicts.
"As the judge noted, the failures alleged were not sustained or repeated. This case provides no evidence at all of systematic failure by the Metropolitan police and therefore I intend to continue to lead the Met in its increasingly successful efforts to reduce crime and to deter and disrupt terrorist activities in London and elsewhere in the UK," he said.
Home secretary Jacqui Smith said the Home Office would "consider carefully the implications of the verdict with the police service" but expressed her confidence in the head of Scotland Yard.
"The trial reminds us all of the extremely demanding circumstances under which the police work to protect us from further terrorist attack," she said.
"The commissioner and the Metropolitan police remain in the forefront of the fight against crime and terrorism. They have my full confidence and our thanks and support in the difficult job that they do."
Following the verdict, Len Duvall, chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), said the fact that an innocent man had died during the course of a police operation was "damning enough".
"Policing in London is a tough business - it is the authority's job is to deliver a fit-for-purpose, efficient and effective police service," he said.
"We ask the police to do a difficult job on our behalf and sometimes they make mistakes. This case led to the tragic death of an innocent man. Our ultimate aim is to make sure we all learn from this tragedy."