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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Met chief defends Stockwell role | Met chief defends Stockwell role |
| (27 minutes later) | |
| Britain's top policeman has been heavily criticised over the aftermath of the Metropolitan Police's shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes in 2005. | Britain's top policeman has been heavily criticised over the aftermath of the Metropolitan Police's shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes in 2005. |
| Commissioner Sir Ian Blair told the force's watchdog he would not quit over the death of the Brazilian, who was mistaken for a 21 July suicide bomber. | Commissioner Sir Ian Blair told the force's watchdog he would not quit over the death of the Brazilian, who was mistaken for a 21 July suicide bomber. |
| One member asked Mr Blair if he would quit while another accused him of not knowing where the truth lay. | One member asked Mr Blair if he would quit while another accused him of not knowing where the truth lay. |
| Sir Ian admitted mistakes but said "we're not guilty of complete idiocy". | Sir Ian admitted mistakes but said "we're not guilty of complete idiocy". |
| In August the Independent Police Complaints Commission's second report into Mr De Menezes' death at Stockwell underground station, south London, found "serious weaknesses" in how the Met handled the facts in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. | In August the Independent Police Complaints Commission's second report into Mr De Menezes' death at Stockwell underground station, south London, found "serious weaknesses" in how the Met handled the facts in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. |
| One senior officer was accused of misleading the public while others were criticised for not correcting details including claims that the 27-year-old electrician had vaulted security barriers. | One senior officer was accused of misleading the public while others were criticised for not correcting details including claims that the 27-year-old electrician had vaulted security barriers. |
| Sir Ian himself said he did not know at the time of giving a press conference that some of his officers already doubted that the Brazilian electrician was linked to the bombers. He maintains he found out there could have been a mistake 24 hours after the death. | Sir Ian himself said he did not know at the time of giving a press conference that some of his officers already doubted that the Brazilian electrician was linked to the bombers. He maintains he found out there could have been a mistake 24 hours after the death. |
| Sustained attack | Sustained attack |
| But appearing before the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), the commissioner faced sustained attack from members who questioned his judgement. | But appearing before the Metropolitan Police Authority (MPA), the commissioner faced sustained attack from members who questioned his judgement. |
| This was not unique or unprecedented. This was foreseeable and that is what you are there for Peter Herbert, Met Police Authority | This was not unique or unprecedented. This was foreseeable and that is what you are there for Peter Herbert, Met Police Authority |
| Richard Barnes, a member of the body, told Sir Ian he was "distressed" that the commissioner did not have the "inquiring mind" needed to get to the bottom of events. | Richard Barnes, a member of the body, told Sir Ian he was "distressed" that the commissioner did not have the "inquiring mind" needed to get to the bottom of events. |
| "There are such major questions within this that I have really deep-seated concerns about the leadership of the Metropolitan Police," he said. | "There are such major questions within this that I have really deep-seated concerns about the leadership of the Metropolitan Police," he said. |
| Sir Ian told the authority that the events of that summer were unique and put immense pressures on the police's operational capabilities. | Sir Ian told the authority that the events of that summer were unique and put immense pressures on the police's operational capabilities. |
| "The situation that the Met faced on that day was, as far as we know, unprecedented anywhere in the western world," he said. "There had been no situation where a suicide bomber had been on the run." | "The situation that the Met faced on that day was, as far as we know, unprecedented anywhere in the western world," he said. "There had been no situation where a suicide bomber had been on the run." |
| READ THE IPCC REPORT Stockwell Two [657KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here Timeline: Shooting aftermath Send us your reaction Family 'disappointed' | READ THE IPCC REPORT Stockwell Two [657KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here Timeline: Shooting aftermath Send us your reaction Family 'disappointed' |
| But another member, Peter Herbert, questioned Sir Ian's defence and asked if the commissioner would resign. | But another member, Peter Herbert, questioned Sir Ian's defence and asked if the commissioner would resign. |
| "Every time I hear that it was unprecedented I get slightly more cynical," said Mr Herbert. "It was not unique ¿ everyone knew this would happen after Madrid [train bombings of 2004]. This was foreseeable and that is what you are there for." | "Every time I hear that it was unprecedented I get slightly more cynical," said Mr Herbert. "It was not unique ¿ everyone knew this would happen after Madrid [train bombings of 2004]. This was foreseeable and that is what you are there for." |
| But Sir Ian said: "We got it appallingly wrong but we are not guilty of complete idiocy. My feeling is that if this happened again, the information would flow very differently." | But Sir Ian said: "We got it appallingly wrong but we are not guilty of complete idiocy. My feeling is that if this happened again, the information would flow very differently." |
| "This was the matter that damaged public confidence in the police force and in some way I am part of that." | "This was the matter that damaged public confidence in the police force and in some way I am part of that." |
| Policing changes | Policing changes |
| Sir Ian said that force had already changed substantially since 2005 with a new system for managing how senior officers remain aware of details in fast-moving crisis situations. | Sir Ian said that force had already changed substantially since 2005 with a new system for managing how senior officers remain aware of details in fast-moving crisis situations. |
| But he also warned against yet more inquiries into what went wrong. The Met faces a trial under health and safety law, an inquest and a proposed further MPA probe. | But he also warned against yet more inquiries into what went wrong. The Met faces a trial under health and safety law, an inquest and a proposed further MPA probe. |
| Sir Ian said: "If we plead guilty or are found guilty [in the health and safety trial] it will have a profound impact on operations in London in fast moving situations." | Sir Ian said: "If we plead guilty or are found guilty [in the health and safety trial] it will have a profound impact on operations in London in fast moving situations." |