Blair could face new investigation

Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair could face a separate investigation by the IPCC following the shooting of John Charles De Menezes, after the Brazilian’s family made a formal complaint over alleged misinformation about his death.

Speaking at a press conference last week, a lawyer for the family confirmed that a letter had been sent to the IPCC, asking it to examine why apparent inaccuracies were not corrected by police.

Those inaccuracies included a statement by Sir Ian that Mr De Menezes had failed to stop after being challenged by officers, as well as claims that he had been wearing a bulky jacket in warm weather – an issue which it is suggested had added to original suspicions that he may have been a suicide bomber.

The family has also lodged a second formal complaint over the amount of time it took for them to be officially informed of the 27-year-old’s death, claiming that it was not until 30 hours after the shooting that they were told he had been killed.

A spokeswoman for the IPCC confirmed that the complaints had been forwarded to the Met and to the Metropolitan Police Authority, but would be referred back to the IPCC.

If it is decided that the complaint relates to the specific actions of either the Commissioner or his deputy, it will be up to the Home Secretary to appoint an investigating officer, who will report to the IPCC during the investigation.

Last month Sir Ian confirmed that he had considered resigning following the shooting of de Menezes, although he stated that he had not come “very close at all” to quitting “because the big job is to defend this country against terrorism and that’s what I’m here to do”.

However, speaking on the BBC’s Hardtalk programme, he admitted that he might still resign, depending “on the level of condemnation” that results from the overall IPCC investigation into the shooting.

That investigation is still on track to be completed by Christmas, when it is likely to be forwarded to the CPS who will decide if any prosecution is necessary.

Even if the CPS does not initiate legal proceedings, the findings of the inquest in front of a jury at coroner’s court could still see the case eventually result in a criminal prosecution.

The IPCC’s investigation has already been surrounded by controversy, following allegations that the decision to delay handing over the inquiry to the IPCC immediately following the shooting was an attempted ‘cover-up’ by the Met, and a separate investigation launched into the leaking of documents from the IPCC inquiry to the media.

In a letter to Permanent Secretary to the Home Office Sir John Gieve, written on the day of the shooting, the Met Commissioner outlined his reasons for not handing over the investigation to the IPCC: “In a fast-moving, multi-site terrorist situation, in which suicide bombers are clearly a very strong possibility, a chief officer of police should be able to suspend S.17 of the Police Reform Act 2002, which requires us to supply all information that the Independent Police Complaints Commission may require. The IPCC has a dual role in the sense that it, itself, is under a duty to provide as much information as it can to the complainant or to members of the deceased`s family. This could put further lives at risk in these circumstances.

“I have therefore given instructions that the shooting that has just occurred at Stockwell is not to be referred to the IPCC and that they will be given no access to the scene at the present time. The investigation will be carried out by the Met`s own Directorate of Professional Standards. This investigation will be rigorous but subordinate to the needs of the counter-terrorism operation.”

Sir Ian has reiterated his belief on several occasions since, telling the Home Affairs Select Committee last month that his force had faced “unique circumstances” on the day of the shooting, with four apparent suicide bombers on the loose.

The IPCC eventually took over the investigation three days later, admitting that there had been initial “resistance” from the Met to thei