Met Firearms Officers Cleared After Six-Year Legal Battle
Two Met firearms officers, known only by their call signs NX1 and MY55, have finally been cleared of misconduct after a lengthy six-year legal saga. The pair were involved in a 2018 armed operation targeting a ruthless robbery gang in south-west London.
High-Stakes Shootout in Wimbledon
The drama unfolded on December 3, 2018, during a carefully planned sting targeting a gang infamous for cash-in-transit van heists. Officers were tracking a suspicious car in Wimbledon, linked to the gang. The passenger’s odd behaviour—lying down in the back seats—set alarm bells ringing.
As gang members Brooklyn McFarlane and Abdi Omar approached a cash-in-transit van on foot, firearms officers, including NX1 and MY55, moved in. Identifying themselves as armed police, the officers confronted the suspects. When McFarlane tried to flee, both officers fired a single shot each, believing him to be armed and a serious threat.
Delay and Controversy Follow Shooting
McFarlane was injured, but the incident sparked years of legal wrangling and exposed major flaws in police oversight. In January 2020, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) handed evidence over to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). This led to charges against NX1 and MY55 for grievous bodily harm with intent. Gross misconduct hearings were also ordered.
However, on the very first day of their trial in October 2021, the CPS dropped all charges after re-examining video evidence and expert testimony. They admitted there was no realistic chance of conviction.
Commissioner Slams Police Scrutiny System
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley slammed the drawn-out delays that caused immense stress to the officers and their families. He criticised the gap in how quickly police involved in terrorism cases are cleared compared to those facing armed criminal incidents.
Despite the CPS dropping charges, the IOPC pushed ahead with the gross misconduct hearings, which ended with the officers fully exonerated. The ordeal sparked debate about how this could affect armed officers’ willingness to serve on the front line.
Commissioner Rowley called for urgent reforms to make police accountability systems faster and fairer. As the Met pushes for changes, this case highlights the heavy toll on officers risking their lives to keep the public safe.
Gang Boss Sentenced to 13 Years
In November 2022, Brooklyn McFarlane was jailed for 13 years after being convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery, weapons offences, and handling stolen goods.
