Police are continuing to support the Independent Office for Police Conduct as it investigates a fatal police shooting in Dagenham last night.
Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “Our thoughts remain with the loved ones of the man who has died, with the local community in Dagenham and the officers involved in this incident.
“The IOPC is independently investigating this matter. It is right that officers are held to account when shots are fired, and we will work with the IOPC to provide all the information they need to carry out their enquiries.
“Our armed officers are highly trained and work around the clock to keep people safe in London. We ask them to do an incredibly difficult job every day and make split-second decisions under huge pressure. A fatal police shooting is rare. The officers involved in this matter are being supported as they assist the IOPC investigation.”
At 19:59hrs on Thursday, 23 November, officers were called to Weston Green, Dagenham. The occupant of an address called the police and said that he wanted to take his own life.
During the phone call, the man also stated that he was in possession of loaded firearms.
As a result of this information, firearms officers attended the address. Police continued efforts to engage with the man throughout.
Shortly before 21:00hrs shots were fired by police after the man left the address. The IOPC has confirmed that what appears to be a firearm was recovered next to him.
Officers immediately provided first aid, including CPR, but despite their efforts and those of paramedics, the man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene at 21:30hrs. While formal identification has yet to take place, officers believe he was aged 40. His next of kin has been informed. No one else was at the address at the time.
The IOPC have also confirmed that what appears to be a second firearm was recovered from inside the address.
A Spokesman for the IOPC said:
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating the circumstances of a fatal police shooting in Dagenham, east London last night.
We have established, via police call logs, that the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) received a call from a man who told police he had firearms and was going to harm himself.
MPS firearms officers went to the address in Weston Green and attempted to speak with the man.
Police body worn video footage shows that the man has come out of the address before returning to the house. He has then come out a second time.
[data-ps-embed-type=slideshow] > iframe {position: absolute;top: 0;left: 0;} _psEmbed(“https:///uknip.photoshelter.com”);We have established that, shortly before 9pm, a Met officer has fired two shots. First aid was provided by officers at the scene however the man was pronounced dead at approximately 9.30pm.
After being notified by the MPS at around 10pm, we immediately started an independent investigation and sent investigators to the scene and police post-incident procedures where the officers involved provided their initial accounts.
What appears to be a non-police issue firearm was located near the man and another recovered from inside the property. Both will be sent for ballistic testing.
IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: “Our thoughts are with the man’s family and all of those affected by this tragic incident. We have spoken with his family to offer our sympathies and explain our role.
“Given a man has died after being shot by police, our role is to investigate all of the circumstances surrounding this incident including the actions and decisions taken by the police.
“We know there will be questions about what happened but it’s important that we establish the facts about this incident before we comment further.”
Our investigation is in its early stages. IOPC investigators have reviewed police body worn footage and obtained police call logs. We remained at the scene today and will be making enquiries with neighbours to identify any witnesses.
