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New Menezes report 'very critical' of Blair
Rob Singh, Crime Reporter17 Jul 2008
Sir Ian Blair is under renewed pressure following criticisms of the Metropolitan police in a report on the Stockwell shooting due to be released tomorrow.
Source have told the Standard that the Metropolitan Police Authority is "very critical" of Sir Ian's force in its report into the death of Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes, who was killed at Stockwell Tube by firearms officers who mistook him for a suicide bomber on 22 July 2005.
The report - titled Scrutiny into Stockwell - looks at how the Met responded to recommendations made by police watchdog the Independent Police Complaints Commission after the shooting.
But it is also believed to cover the circumstances of Mr de Menezes's death and the police's handling of the operation.
Sources close to the MPA said the report is critical of senior officers in charge of the operation, including Sir Ian. "It's damning of certain actions and individuals," said the sources. "Pressure is going to increase on the Commissioner."
The report - compiled by four MPA members - is to be discussed at a meeting of the full authority next Thursday.
The inquest into the death of Mr de Menezes, 27, will be held in September at Southwark crown court.
Last year the IPCC's final report into Stockwell made 16 recommendations to the Met. It blamed the shooting on poor communication and mistakes within Scotland Yard.
A week before the IPCC report was released, the force was fined £175,000 after it was convicted at the Old Bailey under the Health and Safety Act of endangering the public during the drama.
The MPA today refused to discussed the contents of its report until it is released tomorrow.
Reader views (2)
Blair should certainly take responsibility for the Stockwell mess. So far he has tried hard to avoid this, but it will not go away. The person who needs to stand up and be counted is however Commander Cressida Dick. She authorized the use of lethal force, then pretended that she did not know what was going on, and then had the impudence to say that she would have done the same again. She is responsible, at a minimum for the manslaughter of de Menezes. Yet she seems to have got off scot free, and even been promoted. The top cops at Scotland Yard do not understand that they used to be trusted with our lives. With trigger happy lunatics like Cressida Dick out there we now need protection from the cops as much as from the bad guys.
- Simon Evans, Crockett, California, 18/07/2008 01:03
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The Metropolitan Police shot an innocent man. They spread misleading and downright untrue press release to the media, remember the ones that claimed "the man was wearing bulky clothing" and "he jumped the barriers"? All lies and smear.
The person in charge of this farce? Mr Blair. He is not fit for purpose should should resign or be sacked.
- Paul Wolkus, London, UK, 17/07/2008 19:31
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