independent.co.uk
Kaba Shooting: Officer Promotion and Racial Disparities
Firearms officer who fatally shot Chris Kaba to be promoted despite acquittal; report highlights racial disparities in police interactions.
English
United Kingdom
JusticeHuman Rights ViolationsUkPoliceReformShootingRace
Metropolitan PoliceIndependent Office Of Police Conduct
Chris KabaMartyn BlakeMark Rowley
- What policing reforms were announced following the verdict?
- In response to the verdict, the home secretary announced new policing reforms that include anonymity for prosecuted firearms officers unless they are convicted.
- What is the status of the firearms officer who shot Chris Kaba?
- Sergeant Martyn Blake, the firearms officer who shot Chris Kaba, is set to be promoted to inspector after passing exams before the incident. He will be transferred to a different department within the Metropolitan Police.
- Describe the circumstances surrounding the shooting of Chris Kaba.
- The shooting of Chris Kaba, an unarmed Black man, occurred on September 5, 2022, in Streatham, London. Blake was acquitted of murder, but may still face a gross misconduct investigation.
- What was the reaction of the Met Police chief to online commentary following the shooting?
- Following Kaba's death, Met Police chief Sir Mark Rowley criticized online narratives that focused on Kaba's ethnicity and implored for a more honest conversation about the challenges faced by Black communities in London.
- What statistics regarding Black communities and police interactions were highlighted after the verdict?
- A report revealed that Black people are at least seven times more likely to die following contact with police officers. Young Black men are thirteen times more likely to be murdered than white men.