Thursday, August 02, 2007

Terror Chief Blasted Over De Menezes Death

The Metropolitan Police's head of counter-terrorism and intelligence has been heavily criticised in a report into the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.
The report into the handling of information given out after the incident clears Met Commissioner Sir Ian Blair of misconduct.
Terror chief Andy Hayman, however, is accused of misleading the public over statements issued by Scotland Yard's press office.
He is also accused of witholding information from Sir Ian.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission launched an investigation after representations from the de Menezes family.
It found "serious weaknesses" in the Met's handling of the affair and says some of the comments made at the time were innaccurate.
Brazilian Mr de Menezes killed at Stockwell Tube station on July 22, 2005 - the day after the failed London terror attacks.
He was shot in the head seven times by officers who mistook him for one of the July 21 bombers.
In the hours after the shooting, Sir Ian told reporters his death was "directly linked" to anti-terrorist operations - a claim that later had to be retracted.
Mr de Menezes was not formally identified and his innocence established until later that evening.
But Sir Ian was not told about this until the following morning, and later that day apologised to the de Menezes family.
The IPCC report says Sir Ian did not wilfully mislead the public in statements he made to the media.
Among its recommendations is that the Met Police Authority investigates why Sir Ian was kept in the dark about key developments.
Another is that it considers taking appropriate action in relation to Mr Hayman's conduct.
Today's report is the second into Mr de Menezes' shooting and relates solely to complaints of inaccurate information given to the public.
It has been dubbed Stockwell Two. The first IPCC report - 'Stockwell One' - focused on events surrounding the shooting itself.
After it was published the Crown Prosecution Service decided not to charge any of the 11 officers involved.
However, the Met is facing trial under health and safety legislation in October.

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