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Boris Johnson stands by 'trigger happy' remarks that angered Ian Blair
Danny Brierley27 Jan 2009
THE Mayor today refused to apologise for calling police marksmen "trigger-happy" after the comments were revealed in an acrimonious exchange of letters with former Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair.
Boris Johnson made the remark about the officers who killed Brazilian Jean Charles de Menezes on the Tube during a radio debate in the run-up to last year's mayoral election.
Details of the robust exchange between the two were revealed for the first time following a Freedom of Information request and show the level of hostility that existed long before Sir Ian's departure from his role as Britain's top policeman.
Mr Johnson started the row when he told the BBC's World at One programme: "I think the real reason Jean Charles de Menezes got killed in the Stockwell Tube was not just because the police were too trigger happy, although I think you could argue that they were..."
Infuriated by what he saw as "outrageous" and "offensive" remarks, Sir Ian fired off the first missive and demanded a retraction. The Met chief, who resigned after claiming he had lost Mr Johnson's support, wrote: "I am writing to you to say that I consider your comments that it could be argued that MPS officers are 'trigger happy' to be outrageous.
"I would suggest in the strongest possible terms that you withdraw your remarks."
But the war of words over the shooting which occurred in the wake of the 2005 London Tube bombings was exacerbated by Mr Johnson's riposte.
His letter read: "You seem to want me to withdraw the use of the word 'trigger happy' in respect of the death of Jean Charles de Menezes. I have absolutely no intention of doing so.
"It is hard to think of any other description of a catastrophe in which a completely innocent man ends up with seven bullets in his head."
Sir Ian replied again on 6 December 2007 to say that he was "very, very surprised" that Mr Johnson stood by his comments, claiming numerous officers considered them "offensive" and had complained to him.
But today a spokesman for the Mayor reiterated his stance. He said: "The Mayor expressed a considered view as a commentator and mayoral candidate. The letter makes it clear that he is not questioning the courage of the officers at the scene.
"He stands by the concerns he raised and believes they are shared by many in London and across the UK."
Mr Johnson later said the BBC had apologised for cutting off his interview before he had explained himself.
Mr de Menezes was shot on 22 July 2005 at point blank range when armed officers mistook him for failed suicide bomber Hussain Osman.
Reader views (46)
Hindsight is a wonderful gift the only problem is that had a bomb gone off 2 minutes after the police had shot him questions would then have arisen as to why they did not take him down BEFORE he entered the tube or even boarded the bus he had used.
The fact is London was still on a high state of alert after the 7th July bombings and as the recent documentary showed the police did not have a means of communicating with the officers once they entered the tube.
As for Boris use of terms like "trigger happy" it just shows how wrong he is to be Mayor of London as he demonstrates no respect for the work the police have to do with these schoolboy phrases.
Remember, next time the police may hold back from shooting and the consequence could be that hundreds of passengers could loose there lives!!
Policeing and Politics are not awlways two Ps' in a pod.
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex, 01/02/2009 16:15
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The police lied under oath, saying that they made it clear that they identified themselves, when witnesses in the carriage said that they didn't and they destroyed CCTV footage. What else did they cover up? They didn't follow standard procedure or use any form of intelligence, and killed an innocent man. The police need to be bashed when they have done something as heinously wrong as this. Ian Blair has been the face of massive corruption in the MET, and I'm glad his days are gone. Good on you for standing up to him, Boris, and shame on New Labour and their collusion with this sickening and avoidable crime.
- Tom, Norwich, 30/01/2009 12:17
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David from London can you explain the logic behind why anyone would give a warning to a potential suicide bomber? They want to blow themselves up and everyone else near them. Do you really think shouting a warning is going to stop them from doing something they are determined to achieve? That's hardly the actions of "trigger happpy" cops.
- Mike, Herts, 28/01/2009 07:38
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There were a huge number of errors in this tragic case, but the officer who shot Menezes thought he was killing a suicide bomber.
The shoot to kill policy for (real) suicide bombers is the only available option. The alternative of asking him nicely not to explode his bomb is hardly credible.
People have short memories of the events of the time. We were all wondering when the next attacks would be and who would be next.
The Police were under enormous pressure from politicians, the press and the public to find these people.
How many of you would have complained if a real suicide bomber had been killed. Those of you who would have complained should examine your consciences.
- Andrew, London, 28/01/2009 00:45
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Well said, Boris.
- Roger Slade, Winchester, Hampshire, England, 27/01/2009 22:30
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The police firing the guns had been told and understood that this guy was a suicide bomber, what were they supposed to do, tickle him?
- Prj45, London, 27/01/2009 21:57
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We need our police to protect us from criminals.
- Stefan, London, 27/01/2009 20:35
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"Istand by Boris, our elected mayor. Ian and the other Blair were failures and the whole Nu Labor experiment of soft-on-crime soft-on-economy were disasters for London.
- Pat, London"
From his comments about the police do you think Boris will be any better? I think he will be even more soft-on-crime, he doesn't seem to like the criminals to suffer.
- Pat, Essex, 27/01/2009 20:30
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Boris is right.
Don't forget the police also had a problem with Menezes' long coat until CCTVs showed he hadn't had one on...
How professional to let him travel and shoot him without warning. Not even the American trigger-happy police are allowed to do that.
Good on you Boris, great job
- David, London, 27/01/2009 19:54
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Of course the police in the Menezes tragedy were trigger-happy the whole shebang was mishandled from top to bottom. Why as Boris Johnson asked was he allowed onto a bus and then onto the Tube before they filled his brain with bullets? He should have been stopped, questioned and properly identified within minutes of leaving the premises they were watching. Then he would still be alive today. The unarmed British police used to be admired world wide. No longer. They are as bad as their counterparts in many of the most repressive parts of the globe thanks to the Marxist-socialists running the country.
- Ken, France, 27/01/2009 17:55
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Of course Boris is right. I would add "truncheon happy" as well. Remember the Countryside march when some O.A.P's were beaten about the head by some of the police for just being on the march? Blair was a posturing,self seeking New Labour lackey and should have been sacked when he went off to his state financed appartment instead of staying on watch on the day of the murder of this poor young man.
- Mordwinoff, Lisle France, 27/01/2009 17:45
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Frank, your comparison is ludicrous, the indian police officers were "running away" from heavily armed combatants with ak47's and hand grenades, the met officers in question where shooting an un-armed man sitting on the tube...
- Daveb, london, 27/01/2009 17:44
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Simon Jenkins in this same paper has said it all - spot on Boris!
- William, London, UK, 27/01/2009 17:32
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We would do well to compare the action of the Met officers with the Indian police during the recent Bombay terrorist attacks (not their special forces). Their armed police officers ran away. Keep up criticism and soon we will have just such a police force.
- Frank, Dorchester Dorset, 27/01/2009 17:24
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For all of the people who feel that the police did an oustanding job in executing an unarmed and innocent man. Perhaps you could try a bit of empathy and tell me how it would feel if it was your brother / father / friend gunned down by a bunch of trigger happy sociopaths. Thought not, your weak socialist conditioning will not let you feel for the victim, just the criminals... go and give the armed police a big hug.
- Jimbob, Kensington, 27/01/2009 17:12
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Mikes: "Perhaps Boris and all the toadies supporting him here would like to put their lives on the line to protect the public from terrorism? Quite."
I did. For fifteen years. Did you?
- Robert, London, 27/01/2009 16:57
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It would appear most of the commentators here, like Boris Johnson, are ill informed. The phrase "trigger-happy" would seem to imply that the police are letting off rounds left, right and centre with no justification. Look at the statistics; Ten thousand incidents and only shots fired on three occasions. Doesn't strike me as "trigger happy".
- Mike, Herts, 27/01/2009 16:48
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Well said Boris. At least he has common sense , which Blair lacks.
- John, DUNDEE, 27/01/2009 15:38
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As they were told they had the correct target, and their orders were specific, Ian Blair was right and Boris is wrong on the 'Trigger Happy' comment. The errors happened before the shooting in the Command and Control. It was not the firearm's unit that made the error it was their bosses. The firearms unit should be praised for doing their job.
- M Knott, London UK, 27/01/2009 15:32
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At last somebody who has balls. 7 bullets in the head at close range,I call that trigger happy.the two Blairs have blood on their hands. Boris dont you dare withdraw comments!!!!!
- Strombolus, Umberleigh,, 27/01/2009 15:18
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Crikey, never thought i would agree with mad Boris, but he is correct, our Met Police are trigger happy, they are also overpaid, underachieving numptys.
- Kerry, Purley, 27/01/2009 15:09
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If you were an armed police officer, and you had been told there was a chance your target was carrying a suicide bomb, you would want to make sure he was properly dead. One round might not do it: seven probably would. And you certainly wouldn't give a warning. It isn't a case of the individual officers being trigger-happy: this is a failure of intelligence-gathering and command. How could the officers on the scene possibly make a judgement about the man's innocence or guilt? So in my mind, Boris was right in his comment, but it was aimed at the wrong people: the Met's commanders were trigger-happy.
- Charlie, London, 27/01/2009 15:07
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How else do you describe someone who keeps on pumping bullets into a victim's head? Let's not forget that case of the man who was shot for carrying a chair leg in a plastic bag.
It looks more psychological profiling and training is needed for those who carry guns.
- M W Ilkinson, London UK, 27/01/2009 14:57
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Mr Johnson choose his words well - "was not just because the police were too trigger happy, although I think you could argue that they were..."
- that seems a very reasonable statement in the circumstances
- M Wood, somerset uk, 27/01/2009 14:37
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The SAS who sometimes train SO19 firearms officers have been voicing concerns for a number years regarding the quality and standard of the police officers they are sent to train. All to gung-ho and a poor mental application of the tasks at hand.
- Terence Harrington, Canterybury, UK, 27/01/2009 14:33
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A very insensitive remark from a very insensitive mayor. All bluster and no substance.
- Richard, London, England, 27/01/2009 14:06
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I think Boris is absolutely spot on. The shooting of de Menezes was appalling and the inquest showed that No warning was given and the poor victim never stood a chance. The time is coming soon when all normal people will stand up and say " enough is enough " to the rotten ruling clique that we currently have.Two Blairs may have gone in disgrace, but Brown is still doing his damage.
Boris is a breath of fresh air, I hope he continues in the same vein.
- Michael, London, 27/01/2009 14:02
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"Boris want to reduce the police budget, yet calls for more police on the street"
Yes, Boris wants to get the police out from behind desks by reducing the amount of paperwork required from them by replacing them with normal civilians who cost less, can you understand how that works?
- Bob, Cheam, 27/01/2009 13:32
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Boris Johnsons's 'trigger-happy' comments were despicable. The shooting of that poor young man Jean Charles was a tragic error.
- Trelawney Ffrench, Belsize Park, 27/01/2009 13:28
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Well said Gary absolutely right, also doesn't Boris want to reduce the police budget, yet calls for more police on the street where's the money going to come from to pay for them, Boris was quick enough to congratulate the police for getting crime down, yet he ousted their boss for doing so.
- John, london, 27/01/2009 13:22
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I don't agree with everything the new mayor has done, but I agree that he entitled to his comment. After all we should all be held accountable and open to criticism for our actions.
- Markwright, Milan, Italy, 27/01/2009 13:21
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The "zeitgeist" presumably means bashing the police at every opportunity. Perhaps Boris and all the toadies supporting him here would like to put their lives on the line to protect the public from terrorism? Quite.
- Mikes, London, 27/01/2009 13:10
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At last, we have a politician who gets it. The wording might have been unfortunate but he is expressing ordinary people's frustrations with public services that are not working as they should, despite record amounts of taxpayers' cash being spent on them. We need wholesale reform, so that we not only see fewer mistakes but also gain better value from public servants who should enjoy doing their jobs efficiently and effectively. Go for it, Boris! Cameron and the rest - take note and catch the mood. There is an appetite for real change and the recession means there's an opportunity.
- Ken, Brighton, East Sussex, 27/01/2009 13:09
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I voted, unashamedly, for Boris and feel more and more comfortable that it was the right decision.
not only was it a victory for the "anyone-but-ken" brigade, but it seems we also now have a mayor who understands the zeitgeist a bit better than we may have expected.
spot on boris. good stuff.
- Scott, London, 27/01/2009 12:50
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I was never an admirer of Boris Johnson, but I am getting to like him more. The police and the government behaved shamefully after the shooting.
- Ed, Midlands, UK, 27/01/2009 12:32
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Well done Boris - say what you mean and stand by it.
- Patricia, Reading, England, 27/01/2009 12:12
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Good on you Boris. You may be unorthodox but you speak your mind.
- Alan A. Harding, Darlington. England, 27/01/2009 12:06
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Well done Boris, keep it up.
- Boris Fan, london, 27/01/2009 11:54
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Trigger happy? Well said, Boris.
- Sallyr., London, UK, 27/01/2009 11:53
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Well done Boris, i completely agree.
- Mark, Scotland, 27/01/2009 11:16
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We all understand the courage of the police facing the threat of terrorists, but that does not excuse this terrible mistake. The public accepts that prosecution of the officers for murder is inappropriate, on public interest grounds. By the same token, the police will have to live with public opprobrium for this and the onus is on them to earn the public's respect. In the circumstances, "trigger-happy" is a moderate appraisal of their performance on this occasion.
- Blackstone Coke, London, 27/01/2009 10:45
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I find it strange that a conservative should repeatedly shows such disdain for the police. He’s happy to reduce the number of officers, replacing them with civilians, practically advocating policing on the cheap. He’s happy for the met to be the only service in the country not to increase the number of taser trained officers, this despite the fact that London is the most dangerous place in the country for a police officer to work.
I for one am beginning to regret voting for him.
- Gary, london, 27/01/2009 10:41
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"Trigger Happy" is an appropriate description for these out of control incompetent police. "shoot first and ask questions later" is another. Great stuff fearless Boris, lets have more of this.
- Mike, West Midlands, 27/01/2009 10:22
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Ian Blair was fired no for his failures? Why can we not get rid of Gordon Brown??
- Joanna, Islington, London, 27/01/2009 10:03
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I stand by Boris, our elected mayor. Ian and the other Blair were failures and the whole Nu Labor experiment of soft-on-crime soft-on-economy were disasters for London.
- Pat, London, 27/01/2009 09:54
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I think he's absolutely right.
- Kev, London-UK, 27/01/2009 09:50
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