A Metropolitan Police firearms officer, known only as W80, will face no further action after a misconduct hearing into the fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker was discontinued.
Officer Cleared Over 2015 Shooting
The hearing, held at Palestra House in central London, was quashed on Wednesday 15 October when the panel ruled there was no case to answer. The officer shot Jermaine Baker in December 2015 during a police operation to foil a prison breakout near Wood Green Crown Court in north London.
Panel chair Chris McKay said: "The decision of the panel is that we find there is no case for W80 to answer in these proceedings and accordingly the case against W80 is dismissed." He added that full reasons for the decision would be released within five working days.
Details of the Incident
Jermaine Baker, 28, a father of two from Tottenham, was shot at close range by the specialist firearms officer who believed he was reaching for a firearm. However, during the hearing it was established that Baker was unarmed and sitting in the front passenger seat of a stolen Audi A6. An imitation firearm was later found in the back of the vehicle.
Background to the Case
The shooting occurred amid a police operation to prevent a plan to free two prisoners, including Izzet Eren, from a van heading to Wood Green Crown Court. The prisoners were being transported from Wormwood Scrubs Prison after facing sentencing for firearms offences. Several people involved in the attempted breakout were later jailed.
The misconduct proceedings had begun following years of legal challenges over whether officer W80 breached police professional standards in his use of force.
