The police officer who killed Chris Kaba could avoid disciplinary proceedings following recent government updates to how police use of force is evaluated. Sgt Martyn Blake fatally shot 24-year-old Kaba in Streatham, south London, in 2022 after the vehicle Kaba was driving attempted to bypass police cars.
Although a jury acquitted Blake of murder in 2024, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had placed his subsequent misconduct case on hold. The government has since raised the legal threshold for disciplinary cases to match the standards used in criminal proceedings. This change implies that if an action does not constitute a crime, it should not be classified as misconduct.
The IOPC announced on Wednesday that it intends to drop the case, though it plans to discuss the matter with the Kaba family, who maintain that special circumstances warrant moving forward. IOPC official Andrew Johnson stated that the change ensures consistency and fairness for officers, noting that the update aligns misconduct rules with current law. Metropolitan Police deputy commissioner Matt Jukes expressed support for the decision, reiterating his belief that no basis for further action against the officer exists.
Conversely, advocates for the Justice for Chris Kaba Campaign criticized the move as a significant step back for police accountability. They argued that the rules were altered mid-process specifically to protect Blake from professional consequences. Representatives Temi Mwale and Kayza Rose remarked that the decision feels like a blow to public trust, leaving bereaved families feeling unheard.
