Metropolitan Police Authority - statement by Len Duvall in response to CPS decision

42/06
17 July 2006

Our thoughts of course are with the family of Jean Charles de Menezes at this time and also with the victims of the terrorist atrocities.

It is understandable that this decision will be difficult for the family to accept as they have lost their dearly loved son.

Jean Charles de Menezes was another victim of the terrorist atrocities of last year - the events of the 22 July 2005 cannot be disconnected from 7 July and 21 July 2005. We must remember the unique context of the events in London last year. The Met was faced with a series of ‘firsts’ that required tough decisions, with public safety as the paramount consideration. When carrying out their duties the police must always seek to put the public first, but on this occasion a tragic mistake did occur.

The Metropolitan Police Authority notes that the Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute the Office of Commissioner for breaches of health and safety legislation, under Section 3 and 33 of the Health and Safety at Work Act. This decision has been reached by the CPS following the IPCC investigation into the shooting at Stockwell on 22 July 2005.

We are surprised at their decision, and the application of the Health and Safety at Work Act in connection with operational policing raises very difficult questions. This decision will mean that the Metropolitan Police Service will have to answer in court for the way it dealt with the events of 22 July 2005 with the result that more information about this operation will be brought into the public domain, which the MPA welcomes.

It is not possible to discuss any issues relating to disciplinary considerations until all legal processes are complete.

Last summer, London had experienced the first suicide bombers on British soil. As a consequence the Met were working at absolute capacity in order to prevent further atrocities and track down the terrorists, as well as maintaining business as usual for all London citizens. In order to protect the public the Met took the difficult decision to put Operation Kratos, a shoot to stop policy, into action. Records show that in the two weeks after 21/7 the Met received 763 calls from members of the public about suspected suicide bombers. It is important to note that out of the 763 calls only 6 resulted in an armed response unit being sent to the location, with no firearms being discharged.

It is clear that since 7/7 and 21/7 we have to find new ways of fighting terrorism - we must work together with London’s communities to build trust and a sense of ownership of the problems and solutions in order to reduce the likelihood of future attacks and enable all Londoners to feel confident going about their daily lives. The MPS and MPA are fully committed to this approach and will always work to ensure the safety of all London’s communities comes first.

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