Met Police officer cleared of misconduct following four-year inquiry

demoduck.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-05 13:56 3 min read

Metropolitan Police officer wearing a traditional custodian helmet standing in a London street.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has confirmed that firearms officer NX121 will not face misconduct proceedings, concluding a legal process that has spanned nearly four years. The decision follows the officer’s unanimous acquittal by an Old Bailey jury regarding the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba. The IOPC’s decision to drop the proceedings was made following a reconsideration of the case in light of recent changes to the law regarding police use of force.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley welcomed the resolution, describing the period as a time of significant stress for the officer, his family, and the wider firearms command. The Commissioner noted that, in the absence of evidence suggesting a failure in duty, the force had consistently maintained that a misconduct hearing was not warranted. While acknowledging the relief for the officer, the Commissioner also recognized the profound impact on Chris Kaba’s family.

Impact on police accountability systems

Sir Mark Rowley used the conclusion of the case to call for a broader review of police accountability in London and across the UK. He argued that the current system, which can subject officers to concurrent criminal, misconduct, civil, and inquest processes over several years, is “out of balance.”

Met Police officer cleared of misconduct following four-year inquiry

According to the Commissioner, the current framework risks discouraging frontline officers from taking decisive action when confronting dangerous criminals. He expressed concern that the cumulative effect of these legal pressures creates a culture of hesitation, which could ultimately compromise public safety. The Commissioner highlighted that while criminals are held to account once by the courts, officers can face scrutiny through four separate processes, a situation the force describes as a “disgraceful” way to treat personnel.

Historical context of legal scrutiny

The IOPC’s decision regarding NX121 follows a series of high-profile cases that have highlighted the complexities of police accountability:

Officer W80: Misconduct proceedings related to the 2015 shooting of Jermaine Baker were dismissed in October 2025 at the half-way point due to a lack of evidence, following years of litigation that reached the Supreme Court.
PC Paul Fisher: Cleared by a jury in 2023 after being charged with dangerous driving during a 2020 response to a terrorist attack in Streatham. The IOPC subsequently decided against misconduct proceedings.
PCs Justin Hulf and Mara Sow: Cleared in 2025 following a gross misconduct hearing related to the death of a suspect who swallowed drugs during an arrest. The panel found the officers acted correctly based on available information.

Future legislative steps

The Home Office has announced a review of the police accountability system aimed at making processes faster, fairer, and more proportionate. The Metropolitan Police has indicated it will continue to advocate for legislative changes to ensure that the law provides clear protection for officers who act with integrity. The force remains focused on the implementation of recommendations from the Home Office’s rapid accountability review to address the concerns raised by frontline staff.

Source: Metropolitan Police News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Official police report

This report is based on the official statement released by the Metropolitan Police regarding the IOPC decision.

Checks