Met guilty in De Menezes killing

Just as Al Capone was done for income tax evasion, the Met has been found guilty in the case of Jean Charles De Menezes on health and safety grounds.

Focus has been on calls for Sir Ian Blair to go. This is a diversion surely from the main issue - Operation Kratos. Shoot-to-kill may well be necessary in the case where a bomber is about to pull the trigger. Clearly though, in the case of Jean Charles there was a complete breakdown in identifying who he was, from the moment that an officer decided he had to take a leak, through Ivor following him around the streets and buses of London, and finally to the embraces on the Tube itself.

The inquest threw up all sorts of mitigations from the police such as De Meneze's alleged cocaine use and his immigration status. This was after the reports in the days following the shooting about jumping the barriers, not following instructions and wearing bulky clothing, all of which were falsehoods.

What everyone should be asking is in what circumstances is it right for police to shoot-to-kill. If the Kratos guidelines say the Met dealt with De Menezes properly, then it needs reformed so this does not happen again. If the proper procedures were not followed, then there has to be repercussions.

Comments

[joe90]

This has to be read to be believed.
The Metropolitan Police even tried to nobble the jury, and then the judge, at one point -
"Endangering The Public"
By Julie Hyland
World Socialist Web Site
6th Nov 2007
posted on ukwatch.net

"By not attempting to intercept a person they believed to be a suicide bomber at any point during this time, the police “had actually increased the risk” to the public, she said.

Asked about the delay, Commander John McDowell said there was “a feeling that there was a bit of time,” as it was believed no attack would be made until the rush hour, when there would be a “larger number of people about.”

Why did the police decide it was okay to wait until the rush hour, when the potential danger to the public would be far graver? That question was not answered in court. Nor was it the only inconsistency in police accounts."

[Bilal Patel]

What's also worrying is that the Israeli 'Defence' Forces have been training the police on How To Kill Muslims. To deal with Muslims, the Met have been taught to pump 7 bullets into their heads at point blank range, even though they offer no resistance and do as they're told.

I wonder what would have happened if Menezes actually turned out to be Muslim? I reckon the Met would have stitched him up one way or another.

I think this is yet another reason to stop co-operating with the police on any 'intelligence' matters. It could be you who's next.