UK NEWS

MET CHIEF BLAIR REFUSES TO QUIT OVER MENEZES

Sir Ian Blair will not be stepping down

Thursday November 1,2007

By Julia White for express.co.uk

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(11)

METROPOLITAN Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair refused to resign today in the wake of the verdict on the death of Jean Charles de Menezes.

A jury at the Old Bailey found the police guilty of breaking health and safety laws when they fired seven shots at the Brazilian on July 22, 2005.

It was deemed they had unnecessarily put the public at risk during a “catastrophic” operation.

Sir Ian expressed “deep regret” for the “tragedy” which led to the innocent man’s death but despite widespread calls to take the blame, refused to step down.

He said it was an “isolated breach” under “extraordinary circumstances” and gave his backing for all officers involved in counter-terrorism.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown insisted today that he continues to have full confidence in Sir Ian but the Tories and Liberal Democrats called for his resignation.

Conservative home affairs spokesman David Davis said: “His position is now untenable, in light of these findings and the overriding need to restore public confidence.”

Lib Dem Nick Clegg said: “This guilty verdict makes it unavoidable that Ian Blair should take responsibility on behalf of his whole organisation and resign.”

Prosecutors at the Old Bailey set out 19 alleged failings in the police operation in the hours leading up to the shooting.

The force was fined £175,000 and ordered to pay £385,000 costs by trial judge Mr Justice Henriques.

The judge told the court: “This was very much an isolated breach brought about by quite extraordinary circumstances.

“One person died and many others were placed in potential danger."

HINDSIGHT IS A WONDERFUL THING

02.11.07, 8:28pm

Admittingly it was a terrible accident and an error in judgement by the police BUT what if next time the police hesitate and a situation ends up with many innocent people killed these same do gooders will be on their backs again asking why it wasn't prevented.The police these days are always in a no win situation whatever they do with all to many people prepared to find fault.
With all respect to the victim in this case perhaps if he hadn't been over here illegally he would still be alive now.
We all now live in a very dangerous world and the sooner we all wake up to this fact we may understand that in these kind of situations there will sometimes be mistakes made.

• Posted by: Robwin • Report Comment

MENENES

02.11.07, 3:11pm

itshim has a very valid point, the man had overstayed his visa, so should not even have been here. I don't mean this as an excuse to kill him, but the police were in a no-win situation and if he had stopped it would not have ended so tragically. Just imagine though, if he had been a suicide bomber the carnage he could have caused. The police erred on the side of caution and should not be blamed.

• Posted by: alan94 • Report Comment

BLAIR

02.11.07, 9:55am

He should resign,whatever the right or wrongs of this case,he has shown himself to be inept and arrogant.Even ex plod commentators have been slating his handling of this case when normally they stick together.Cressida Dick who was in nominal control of the operation has spent her time blaming all and sundry of her subordinates.Will it be another case of authority without responsibilty.I expect the lady who brings the tea trolley round Scotland Yard to carry the can.

• Posted by: diddleydoo • Report Comment

MET CHIEF BLAIR REFUSES TO QUIT OVER MENEZES

02.11.07, 8:47am

When the Police go out on a shoot to kill mission, as professionals the very least we should expect from them is to know who they are shooting at....... the basis of this verdict!

• Posted by: TicToc • Report Comment

BLAIR

01.11.07, 11:09pm

The police have a very difficult job to do,and a tragic mistake was made. However the real blame for this event lies with the islamofascists who created the situation in the first place

• Posted by: urban • Report Comment

DON'T BE HERE ILEGALLY

01.11.07, 8:04pm

So he was wrongly shot! but if he was not here wrongly he would not have been. If he had a visa he could have walked upright, if he did not use cocain he would not have looked shifty. The Police did a good job in trying to protect us. Are the ones complaining going to complain if the police miss out the next time suicide bombers strike in our country.

Go to de Menezes country and try complaining of police brutality you will realise just how luck you are to be here

• Posted by: itshim • Report Comment