Met firearms officers hand in guns in wake of Chris Kaba shooting murder charge
Armed officers from the Metropolitan Police have handed in their guns amid the fallout over the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba.
Mr Kaba, 24, was unarmed when was shot and killed in south London last year. A Met Police officer appeared in court on Thursday over the fatal shooting as senior officers, including the Police Commissioner, have been meeting with firearms officers in recent days to reflect on the murder charge.
Some members of the armed police unit are said to be concerned that the decision to charge the officer will restrict what actions they can take in 'challenging' situations while on duty.
A number of armed officers from the Metropolitan Police have stepped back from firearms duties in response to the murder charge (stock image) (PA)A Met Police spokesman said: “Many are worried about how the decision impacts on them, on their colleagues and on their families. They are concerned that it signals a shift in the way the decisions they make in the most challenging circumstances will be judged. A number of officers have taken the decision to step back from armed duties while they consider their position. That number has increased over the past 48 hours.”
According to the BBC, more than 100 police officers have surrendered their tickets, an accreditation allowing them to carry firearms while on duty. The Met is providing support to officers who have withdrawn from firearms duties to help them "fully understand the genuinely held concerns that they have". A spokesperson said: “The Met has a significant firearms capability and we continue to have armed officers deployed in communities across London as well as at other sites including Parliament, diplomatic premises, airports etc. Our priority is to keep the public safe. We are closely monitoring the situation and are exploring contingency options, should they be required.”
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Officers from neighbouring forces stepped up to help patrol the capital on Saturday night to deal with the police walkout. An inquest at Inner South London Coroner's Court in October last year heard father-to-be Chris Kaba's Audi was blocked by a police car, and that there had been 'contact' between the two vehicles before a marksman fired a single shot through the windscreen. The court heard the bullet hit Mr Kaba - who was not being treated as a suspect at the time - in the head. The vehicle had been linked by police to a firearms incident the previous day.
The officer accused of his murder, granted anonymity and referred to only as NX121 by a district judge, made appearances at both Westminster Magistrates' Court and the Old Bailey on Thursday. The charge follows a six-month investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct, who referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
In a joint statement, the family of Mr Kaba earlier said they "welcomed" the decision to charge the officer and said they hoped his trial would soon begin "without delay". They added: "Chris was so very loved by our family and all his friends. He had a bright future ahead of him, but his life was cut short. Our family and our wider community must see justice for Chris." In a separate statement they also criticised the ban on identifying the officer, claiming that naming them would help the "fair and accurate reporting of this case, which is in the interests of open justice."
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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