THE firearms officer who killed Chris Kaba must face a gross misconduct hearing, a police watchdog announced today.

Mr Kaba, a 24-year-old black man, was fatally shot by Metropolitan Police officer Martyn Blake while sitting in his car on September 5 2022 in Streatham, south London.

He was unarmed and police officers did not know who he was at the time of the shooting.

Mr Blake was acquitted of murder last October. He was immediately reinstated by the Metropolitan Police and has since been promoted to inspector.

But the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) watchdog has announced that he will still have to face gross misconduct proceedings regardless.

IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: “This is a decision we have taken based on examining all the evidence, views of all parties and by applying the thresholds set out in legislation and guidance which govern our work.”

Welcoming the news, Mr Kaba’s family said: “We hope this leads to him being removed from the Met Police.

“What Martyn Blake did was deeply wrong. We are still so devastated to have lost Chris — this should never have happened.

“The fact that the Met promoted Martyn Blake after the verdict only deepened our pain and showed a complete disregard for our loss.”

Met bosses have argued that evidence against Mr Blake had been “tested significantly” during the trial, and urged the IOPC to reconsider its decision.

Metropolitan Police Federation general secretary Matt Cane claimed the ruling was “nonsensical.”

Deborah Coles, director of the charity Inquest, said: “The IOPC’s decision to direct disciplinary action over the killing of Chris Kaba is welcome.

“But the fact that the Metropolitan police required direction and were not willing to take this step themselves is reprehensible.

“Instead of addressing the toxic culture exposed in the Casey review and ending police killings, they are putting their energy into lobbying for greater protections for firearms officers.

“There cannot be one standard for the police and another for the public. That erodes trust and erases justice; it’s impunity.”

Stand up to Racism co-convener Sabby Dhalu said: “We welcome IOPC’s decision on the disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct against Martyn Blake.

“However Chris Kaba was unarmed when he was shot in the head by Blake and this decision, regardless of the outcome, will not deliver justice.”

“We support the family’s campaign for justice and real change.”

The Met said a date for the gross misconduct hearing is yet to be set.