The conversation around police accountability, public safety, and officer protection has taken a sharp turn once again—and this time, it’s former Home Secretary Suella Braverman who’s stepping firmly into the spotlight.
Her latest comments have sparked fresh controversy as she slams a misconduct hearing against a police officer who was recently cleared of murdering a known gangster in south London.
Braverman Slams Watchdog Decision as “Insanity”
Suella Braverman didn’t hold back when reacting to news that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) would proceed with a gross misconduct hearing against Sergeant Martyn Blake.
The officer had already been found not guilty of murder by a jury last October after fatally shooting 24-year-old Chris Kaba during a police stop in Streatham back in 2022.
Calling the move the “definition of insanity,” Braverman argued that reopening the case in any form was both unjust and harmful to frontline officers.
“He’s already been through the courts and cleared. Now he’s being put through it all over again—it’s like trying him twice,” she said.
Her frustration was echoed by many in law enforcement, with some calling it a “witch hunt.”
The Incident That Shook London
To give context, Sgt Blake fired a single shot at Kaba during a tense standoff.
Kaba had tried to force his way out of a police stop using a high-powered Audi Q8, just one day after the vehicle had reportedly been involved in a shooting.
Though the jury wasn’t informed of Kaba’s criminal history during the trial, other officers at the scene testified they were mere “milliseconds” away from pulling the trigger themselves.
The case stirred up national attention, prompting many Metropolitan Police marksmen to temporarily walk off the job in protest when Blake was charged.
The situation became so precarious that even the Army was placed on standby.
Braverman Says Officers Are Quitting in Droves
Braverman went further, saying the whole episode is having a ripple effect across police forces.
“This kind of treatment is exactly why officers are leaving in droves,” she warned, insisting that the IOPC’s handling of the situation is undermining morale.
She also urged current Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to intervene and put a stop to what she described as a “witch hunt.”
“We should be backing our police, not throwing them under a bus,” Braverman stated, clearly angry about the direction of the inquiry.
Former Police Chiefs Back Blake
Two high-profile former chief constables added their voices to the growing backlash.
Sir Peter Fahy, who once led Greater Manchester Police, said the IOPC may not fully grasp the trauma Sgt Blake has endured while “just doing his job.”
Meanwhile, Mike Barton, ex-chief of Durham Constabulary, pointed out the stark contrast in timing: “He had milliseconds to make a decision, and now others are spending years second-guessing it.”
The IOPC Defends Its Decision
Despite the criticism, the IOPC is standing firm. A spokesperson clarified that it won’t be leading the actual inquiry—that responsibility now falls to the Metropolitan Police, who will also control how fast it moves.
“We’re not judge and jury here,” the IOPC source explained.
Amanda Rowe, director at the IOPC, acknowledged that the situation has triggered emotional responses across multiple communities, from firearms officers to the black British community.
But she emphasized that their decision was grounded in evidence and the legal thresholds they’re required to follow.
“The legal bar for deciding whether there’s a misconduct case to answer is actually quite low,” Rowe said.
“All it takes is a reasonable chance that a disciplinary panel could find misconduct on the balance of probabilities.
That bar has been met, and so we must let the process play out.”
A Case That’s Not Going Away Anytime Soon
With emotions running high and lines being drawn on both sides, this case continues to expose deep tensions between public accountability and police protection.
As the misconduct process moves forward, the broader debate over how society should handle such split-second decisions—and the fallout that follows—shows no sign of quieting down.