HOME Secretary Suella Braverman has been accused of potentially prejudicing a live murder trial with an “incredibly ill-advised” social media post.
Sharing a story about Metropolitan Police officers’ response to an ongoing murder trial against one of their number over the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba (below), Braverman said armed officers should not “fear ending up in the dock for carrying out their duties”.
Posting on Twitter/X, the Home Secretary was responding to a story in The Telegraph reporting that firearms officers were handing in their guns after a policeman was arrested and charged on suspicion of murdering an unarmed black man in London last year.
“In the interest of public safety they have to make split-second decisions under extraordinary pressures.
“They mustn’t fear ending up in the dock for carrying out their duties.
“Officers risking their lives to keep us safe have my full backing & I will do everything in my power to support them.
“That’s why I have launched a review to ensure they have the confidence to do their jobs while protecting us all.”
'Incredibly ill-advised'
Her comments were seen by some as potentially prejudicial given the restrictions around commenting on ongoing legal proceedings.
Former shadow attorney general Karl Turner said: “It is incredibly ill-advised for any government minister, not least a former attorney general, and current Home Secretary to be commenting on a criminal prosecution.
“Any such comment risks unfairly influencing the outcome of a court case and is, potentially, a contempt of court.”
Harriet Harman, who served as solicitor general in Tony Blair’s Cabinet, said: “Nothing must be done or said by any of us which would tend to interfere with the criminal justice system in any case.”
Alastair Campbell, formerly Blair’s chief spin doctor, said: “Just dusting off my trainee journalist books on contempt of court … quite something when a former Attorney General turned Home Sec is the apparent offender.”
The Telegraph reported that Scotland Yard’s firearms command was in crisis after “dozens” of officers handed in their weapons in apparent protest over the decision to charge their colleague, who has been kept anonymous under the codename NX121.
Contempt of court rules limit the public and the media in what they can say about ongoing criminal trials and are aimed at preventing speculation which could prejudice a jury.
Braverman’s comments come after the Attorney General released an unusual notice last week calling on media organisations to be wary of reporting on sex abuse allegations against Russell Brand, despite there being no live proceedings against the entertainer.
The National has asked the Attorney General’s office whether it will assess Braverman’s comments in light of suggestions she has breached contempt of court rules.
The Home Office was approached for comment.
