Something For The Weekend 9

Isn’t it amazing how some people in high places never seem to know when to keep quiet?

The latest culprit is former top cop Sir Ian Blair, who has just released his autobiography, ‘Policing Controversy’, in which he attempts to defend his three and a half years as head of the Metropolitan Police.

I say ‘attempts’ because there is one episode during his reign that is absolutely indefensible: the cold blooded shooting by his officers of an innocent man – Jean Charles de Menezes, mistakenly identified as a suicide bomber.

In the book, Sir Ian somewhat insensitively suggests that: “If, as they thought, the officers were dealing with a suicide bomber, they would have deserved the George Medal,” adding: “Instead, tragically for the de Menezes family and for them, they live with the killing of an innocent man.”

Admittedly, criticism is always easier with hindsight – and the whole Stockwell Tube shooting has been extremely well documented from start to tragic end, including the subsequent inquest – but the key word in that paragraph is ‘if’.

There is no room for an ‘if’ in any life or death matter, Sir Ian. It indicates uncertainty. And there was, by all account, plenty of that – especially regarding the identity of the so-called ‘terrorist’ – four years ago on that fateful morning of July 23.

Ironically, the word ‘if’ becomes entirely appropriate, here. For if officers were uncertain, they were not justified in pursuing Jean Charles de Menezes in the first instance – let alone forcing him to the floor of a tube train, hands pinned to his side, and shooting him in the head at point-blank range. What a terrifying moment.

There is no doubt in my mind that higher ranking officers must bear the brunt of the blame. They should have called a halt to the entire operation at the first hint of doubt.

So, with the advent and revelations of his book, I cannot help wondering if Sir Ian, himself, feels haunted by failure, because contained in the pages is an admission that he ignored the ‘first rule of major incidents’ – not questioning initial reports suggesting that Jean Charles de Menezes was a terrorist.

If only….