Officer charged with the murder of Chris Kaba will be named publicly

A judge has ruled that the Metropolitan Police marksman will be identified after legal hearings at the Old Bailey last month.

Judge Lucraft said that the officer's name and date of birth will be made public next year, but that their home address or any image of them cannot be published.

In his ruling, the judge said he had viewed "raw underlying intelligence material" before coming to the conclusion there was not a "real and immediate risk" to the life of the defendant or to his family.

In the immediate aftermath of the shooting in September 2022, he said there was "significant information about a threat".

However, any risks in lifting the anonymity order could be addressed in various way to "ameliorate or mitigate them", he said.

He went on: "If NX121 is named, there is a risk that some may seek to obtain more details about him and to make threats to him or his family.

"However, in my judgment the naming the defendant or in giving his date of birth does not give rise to a real and immediate risk to his life.

"In contrast, in my judgment the lifting of all aspects of his identity might give rise to such risks and so the order of this court will not permit the address of the defendant to be given in court.

Chris Kaba died when he was shot through the windscreen of a car in Streatham Hill, south-east London, on September 6 last year.

The Metropolitan Police marksman was charged with murder on September 20 this year, with the Crown Prosecution Service choosing not to publicly name the officer at the time.

Speaking about the delay in lifting the anonymity today Judge Lucraft added: "Not only should that period of time cater for consideration of any pre-trial issues but it should also cater for the imposition of any additional mitigating measures to be put in place or implemented by those responsible for dealing with NX121 before the first name or names, surname and date of birth of NX121 are able to be released.

"As any trial will not be before the summer of 2024, I do not see that this should cause any other concerns."

A plea and trial preparation hearing is due to take place on December 1, with a trial potentially starting on September 9 next year.

The Metropolitan Police service have been responding to todays decision.

In response Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: “I recognise that for officers this decision will be hugely concerning, and that the impact of this and recent cases is felt right across armed policing and beyond.

“The Met has supported the anonymity hearing by providing evidence and factual information to His Honour Judge Lucraft KC to assist him in making a decision. We take seriously the open justice principle, however it was important to make the court aware of the effect that loss of anonymity would have in this case. We acknowledge the judgement by the court and note the detailed and careful consideration that has taken place.

“We have also been continuing to make representation in the strongest terms to Government to expedite their Accountability Review, and welcome the commitment given by the Home Secretary for the review to report by the end of the year.

“Armed officers in London typically respond to around 4,000 armed incidents and 800 pre-planned operations every year, plus recover hundreds of firearms and weapons. Yet on average over the last 20 years firearms have been discharged at suspects on two or fewer occasions per year. Shootings by our armed officers are very rare.

“Taking on the additional responsibilities of being a firearms officer is voluntary in this country due to the very real additional risks the role entails. Accountability will always be crucial, however, it must be an accountability system that officers, and the public, can see fairly takes into consideration and gives appropriate legal protection to the unique role we ask armed officers to undertake"