Jean Charles de Menezes: Security forces not held to account

AN INVESTIGATION by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) into the fatal shooting of Brazilian migrant worker, Jean Charles de Menezes, in Stockwell tube station by police in July 2005 has concluded that the counter-terrorism chief Andy Hayman 'misled the public'.

Dave Carr

But the family and supporters of Jean Charles are bitterly disappointed and angered that no-one in the security forces is being held accountable for his death.

The bungled police shooting followed the failed attack on 21 July 2005 by four bombers on the London transport network. In 2006 the IPCC decided not to prosecute any police involved in the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. To add insult to injury the firearms officers involved in this botched anti-terrorist operation were allowed to resume full duties.

Likewise, no police officer was charged for the shooting of Mohammed Abdul Kahar in an 'anti-terrorist' dawn raid at Kahar's home in Forest Gate, east London, on 2 June 2006. The wounded Kahar was arrested but released without charge after a week in police custody.

The IPCC later ruled that "no criminal or disciplinary offence" had been committed by any police officer. Astonishingly, according to Kahar's solicitor, Gareth Peirce, "the IPCC accepted statements that the officers prepared".

These decisions underline what the socialist has consistently warned: the police can act with impunity under the government's draconian anti-terrorist laws.

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