The Metropolitan Police has been scolded for "tyrannical nonsense" after confirming that the officer who shot Chris Kaba in 2022 will now face a gross misconduct hearing - despite being cleared of murder.
Following the officer's trial in October last year, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has determined there is sufficient evidence for a disciplinary panel to consider the case.
In a statement, the Met Police claimed they believed the officer "should not face any further action due to the extensive evidence tried and tested at court and the not guilty verdict returned by the jury" - but have now followed the direction of the IOPC.
Discussing the latest development by the Met Police, former police officer and founder of Fair Cop Harry Miller claimed the force "do not care" about the welfare of the officer who was cleared of murder, and the impact this case has had on him.
Harry Miller has expressed his outage at the decision by the Met Police to begin a gross misconduct investigation into the officer who shot Chris Kaba
PA / GB News
Miller told GB News: "We have a double jeopardy situation with policing at the moment, and if you're accused of something and it's possibly criminal, you have to go through that. If they fail to get you that way, then they go through professional standards, which is what this poor officer is going through right now.
"And then if they fail to get you on that, they are still using this vetting thing, so if you've even been investigated for something, they can say you've now failed your vetting and get rid of you that way."
He fumed: "There are thousands and thousands of police officers who are being subject to this absolute tyrannical nonsense, and I really hope that Sir Mark Rowley addresses this, because it needs addressing."
Addressing the details of the incident in 2022, in which Kaba was shot, Miller recalled how Kaba was using his car as a "lethal weapon" against the officers, and so the firearms officer who made the decision to shoot him had "no time" to consider his decision.
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Protests took place following Chris Kaba's death in 2022GettyMiller told GB News: "The officer was put in a very, very difficult situation. He didn't have the luxury of going away and thinking about it for a long, long time. Chris Kaba was in a vehicle - he was using that vehicle as a dangerous offensive weapon.
"When somebody is prepared to use a vehicle as a weapon, then it becomes a lethal weapon. So it's entirely wrong to say that Chris Kaba was was not armed, that he didn't have a lethal weapon - he was driving a lethal weapon. And so the officer had to make the decision in a split second, should I shoot or should I not shoot? And he chose to shoot."
Criticising the decision by the IOPC and the Met Police for going ahead with the gross misconduct hearing, Miller claimed they have "no business" putting the officer through this ordeal, when he was already been cleared in trial.
Miller stated: "A jury has decided that his intentions were entirely honourable and noble, and therefore I think the professional standards have no business whatsoever putting this poor man who is doing a duty on behalf of all of us through an intolerable situation. It has to stop and it has to stop now.
Miller told GB News that the Met Police 'do not care' about the welfare of the officer
GB News
"The police have done this to this good sergeant, they say that they understand how awful it is for him. Well, they do understand it, but hey simply don't care. That's the problem.
"And I don't know who it is they're trying to impress, because if they're trying to instil confidence in the public, well, they are massively, massively failing in that, because we're all normal people asking 'what the hell is going on?'"
In a statement, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: "We recognise the significant impact of Mr Kaba’s death on his family who continue to grieve the loss of a loved one.
"Since NX121 was acquitted, the IOPC has been reconsidering whether he should face misconduct proceedings. We made strong representations that he should not face any further action due to the extensive evidence tried and tested at court and the not guilty verdict returned by the jury."
He added: "However, the IOPC has now determined that NX121 has a case to answer for his use of force and has directed us to hold a gross misconduct hearing.
"We know another lengthy process will fall heavily on the shoulders of NX121 and more widely our firearms officers, who continue to bravely and tirelessly police the streets of London every day to protect the public."
