Watchdog to probe UK top cop over Brazilian's death

Maria Otone de Menezes, mother of Jean Charles de Menezes, speaks to journalists during a news conference. File picture / Reuters

Britain's most senior police chief is to be investigated following complaints that he gave misleading information about the shooting dead of Jean Charles de Menezes, the innocent Brazilian.

The conduct of Sir Ian Blair, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, and his staff, will be examined by the Independent Police Complaints Commission.

This follows a complaint by Mr de Menezes' family who claimed that Sir Ian and the Met misled them and the public immediately after the shooting.

Mr Menezes, 27, was shot eight times, including seven times in the head, at Stockwell Tube station on 22 July this year, after mistakenly being identified as one of four failed suicide bombers.

On the day of the shooting Sir Ian told a news conference that, as far as he understood, the man shot dead had been directly linked to the anti-terrorist operation following the failed suicide bomb attacks on London the day before.

Scotland Yard was also quoted as saying Mr Menezes' "clothing and demeanour" added to suspicions he was a suspected suicide bomber.

Sir Ian is expected to argue that the comments were given in good faith and were based on information provided by his officers.

He is also likely to say that the Met were unable to correct the mistakes because the IPCC had instructed them not to comment further on the case while they investigated the shooting.

If Sir Ian, or any of his officers, are found to have knowingly made misleading statements they will come under pressure to resign.

A statement from the IPCC said the inquiry would be separate from the current investigation under way into the fatal shooting.

The two firearms officers who shot dead Mr de Menezes are not expected to face criminal charges.

They are understood to argue that they honestly believed the suspect was a suicide bomber and that they used reasonable force to kill him and prevent him detonating any device.

It is still unclear whether Commander Cressida Dick, who was in charge of the botched operation, will face any charges.

A second aspect of the family's complaint, that the Met delayed informing them of Mr de Menezes' death, is to be incorporated into the existing investigation, which is due to be completed next month.

Commenting on the new inquiry into the Met's comments, Nick Hardwick, head of the IPCC, said: "We will treat this investigation in the same way as any other, although I have asked a panel of three IPCC Commissioners to oversee it.

"We have not made any assumptions and for the sake of Jean Charles' family, officers within the MPS and the public at large, will try to establish the truth in an impartial, proportionate and timely way."

Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates, speaking on behalf of the Met, said they would be fully cooperating with the investigation.

He said: "We wish to make it clear that whilst the further complaints raised clearly involve the commissioner, they are not solely about him.

"They specifically ask that the IPCC investigate where any misleading accounts relating to the tragic events of July 22 originated from, and how and why they were put into the public domain.

"The brief statements issued by the Metropolitan Police following the fatal shooting in Stockwell are a matter of public record."

He added that they had apologised for any inaccuracies privately to the family 48 hours after the incident.

Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesman Mark Oaten said: "In our society, where terrorism presents a real and constant threat, it's critical that the public can have confidence in the public statements of the police.

"Lessons must be learned from Jean Charles's tragic death."

- INDEPENDENT