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Paddick to reveal shoot-to-kill concerns at Menezes inquest
Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent15.08.08
One of Sir Ian Blair's most senior officers is set to give devastating evidence at the inquest into the death of Jean Charles de Menezes.
The Scotland Yard Commissioner is fighting an attempt by former deputy assistant commissioner Brian Paddick to testify against the force. Mr Paddick quit the Met in the wake of the July 2005 killing of the Brazilian.
The family of Mr de Menezes, 27, who was shot dead by firearms officers who mistook him for a suicide bomber, want the coroner to call Mr Paddick in the inquest which begins next month.
His testimony could be highly damaging to the Metropolitan Police and the embattled Commissioner.
Mr Paddick is on a list of witnesses put forward to the coroner by Michael Mansfield, QC, who is representing the de Menezes family. But in a major behind-the-scenes row lawyers for the Met and the Police Federation are attempting to block the move.
The police lawyers claim that Mr Paddick's evidence is not relevant to how Mr de Menezes died. They will ask the coroner not to call him.
Mr Paddick quit the Met saying that he had been sidelined by Sir Ian because he disputed the Commissioner's version of events about what happened on the day of the shooting.
An independent inquiry later found that Sir Ian had told the truth about what happened.
However, Mr Paddick is now thought to be preparing to tell the inquest of his reservations about the Met's shoot-to-kill policy, termed Operation Kratos.
If he is called to give evidence by the coroner, he could raise questions over how the policy was implemented.
Operation Kratos was developed by the police as a tactic to combat suicide bombers. It allows officers to shoot terrorists without warning and involves marksmen firing into a suspect's head at point blank range to kill them instantly.
On 22 July, 2005, Mr de Menezes was shot dead by firearms officers who believed he was a suicide bomber. He had just boarded a train at Stockwell Tube station when he was pinned down and shot seven times in the head at point blank range.
It was first thought that the Met had used the Kratos strategy because of the manner of the shooting. But later the Met insisted that Kratos had not been used.
Sources close to Mr de Menezes's family said today that Mr Paddick has been trained in Operation Kratos and firearms tactics and that he was on duty at Scotland Yard on the day of the shooting. One said: "He was a very senior officer and his evidence in terms of Kratos and firearms could be very important."
A total of 44 police officers have been granted anonymity at the inquest, including the firearms officers who shot Mr de Menezes and others who were involved.
Senior officers including deputy assistant commissioner Cressida Dick, who led the operation, will also be called. It is understood there is still discussion over whether or not to call Sir Ian.
Senior officers are expecting a barrage of criticism at the inquest which starts at the Oval cricket ground on 22 September.
The inquest will hear evidence for the first time from the two firearms officers who shot Mr de Menezes. Mr de Menezes's elderly mother and his sister are expected to travel from Brazil to attend the four-week hearing.
Since the shooting the Met has radically overhauled the tactics for Operation Kratos to "learn the lessons" of what happened.
Last year at the Old Bailey the Met was convicted on one general health and safety count over the shooting.
Reader views (9)
My, my. Someone must really hate Mr Paddick to chose that photo!
- David Evans, St Helens, Lanashire
regrettably, the police are not becoming death squads. If they were there, 24 terrorists who we seem unable to deport would not still be roaming the streets
- Stephen, United Kingdom
EX PAT.I fear you have lived there too long. I would say you should be 100% sure before you take a life. Sometimes it helps your train of thought if you put yourself in the position of the victim, it could have been you or a member of your family.Would 51% have been enough then?If the security forces had done their job competently this would not have occurred in the first place. Why did they lie about the circumstances shortly after? You seem to be advocating a shoot to kill policy on people who are not white on mere suspicion.
- John P, Newcastle UK
"If a police officer is more than 51% certain it's a suicide bomb, I say shoot", according to 'Expat Brit, Tel Aviv, Israel'.
Ah, so that's the attitude that has resulted in such universal peace and harmony throughout the Holy Land, then?
- Frank, Home Counties, United Kingdom
I was in a place next to a real suicide bomber.
I wish there'd been someone ready to shoot then.
If a police officer is more than 51% certain it's a suicide bomb, I say shoot - odds are that in the event of a mistake - only one person dies and not many.
Either we have to become impotently politically correct or deal with the severity of the situation in which we can find ourselves.
- Expat Brit, Tel Aviv, Israel.
What does it say when everyone involved in the shooting has to hide?
- Rich, San Angelo, USA.
For what it`s worth, about a month before the DeMenezes shooting I heard a conversation between two armed London cops. They said they had been given the authority to "terminate" any suspect if they thought there was a bomb involved. Thus, we go down the slippery slope. Our police are becoming death squads. This has to stop.
- Clive Allen, Nelson, New Zealand.
Paddick is obviously trying to gain a bit more attention for his political intentions, his abysmal performance in the London mayoral elections should have shown him what we think of him but he doesn't seem to have got the message.
- A Plod, London
I have absolutely no doubt that serious failings on the part of the Met', and in particular Cressida Dick (who, as the operation commander, should have been held responsible) and Ian Bliar, led to the death of Mr DeMenezes. However, Paddick is a political opportunist and I would take anything that he says with very large pinch of salt.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
