The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has released its findings following an investigation into the fatal shooting of Hassan Yahya by police officers in Westminster in March 2020. The inquiry concluded that the officer’s use of force was appropriate given the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The investigation, which concluded in September 2021, was prompted by an inquest into Mr Yahya’s death, which returned a verdict that he was lawfully killed.
According to the IOPC’s report, Ministry of Defence Police officers encountered Mr Yahya while on mobile patrol in a marked police vehicle on Upper Ground, London, SE1, on the night of March 8, 2020. When they attempted to engage with him, Mr Yahya produced two knives, prompting the officers to discharge their Tasers.
Following this encounter, additional officers from the Metropolitan Police and the City of London Police (CoLP) responded to the scene after an emergency call for assistance. Despite multiple attempts to subdue Mr Yahya using non-lethal force, including discharges of Tasers, he continued to evade arrest.
The situation escalated when Mr Yahya moved toward a CoLP officer while holding two knives. In response, the officer discharged a single shot, striking Mr. Yahya. Despite receiving emergency first aid from the officers, Mr Yahya was pronounced dead at the scene.
Charmaine Arbouin, the regional director of the IOPC, expressed condolences to Mr Yahya’s family and reiterated the rarity of fatal police shootings. Arbour emphasized that the decision to use lethal force must be thoroughly examined and justified.
The IOPC’s investigation involved reviewing CCTV footage, witness statements, medical records, and expert reports. While no officers were found to have breached professional standards of behaviour, three CoLP officers underwent a reflective practice review due to their failure to activate their body-worn cameras during the incident.
The IOPC’s report and findings were shared with Mr Yahya’s family and the HM Coroner, providing transparency and accountability in the aftermath of the tragic incident.
