Scotland Yard is seeking answers from the police watchdog after a former employee claimed his team were warned of rioting if they had not investigated Chris Kaba’s shooting as homicide.
Metropolitan Police firearms officer Martyn Blake was acquitted of the 24-year-old gangster’s murder at the Old Bailey last month.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct’s former regional director Sal Naseem alleged investigators were told trouble might have flared if Kaba’s death on September 5, 2022 was not declared a homicide probe.
Mr Naseem told BBC One’s Panorama on Monday night: “It was fed back to us... that if we hadn’t done it at that time then it’s likely there would have been a level of disorder. Things were on a knife edge.”
The IOPC denies its investigation was influenced by external pressure. Met Commisioner Sir Mark Rowley has previously said his officers believe the opposite is true and campaign groups can influence accountability.
It also emerged his Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward wrote to programme makers ahead of the broadcast concerned that the documentary wouldn’t be fair on Sergeant Blake in light of the jury’s verdict.
The hour-long episode, titled The Chris Kaba Shooting, referred to the Met’s battle against accusations of toxic racism which was never a feature of Blake’s criminal case.
Reminding the channel of its responsibility not to stoke or fuel hatred, DAC Ward told executive producer Tom Stone the show’s proposed outline was “unbalanced and inaccurate”, posing a real risk of deepening community tensions.
Matt Cane, general secretary of the Met Police Federation representing the force’s rank-and-file, said on Tuesday: “Police officers will be stunned - but perhaps not surprised - about the utter lack of balance in the BBC Panorama documentary aired last night over the killing of Chris Kaba.
“We note that the documentary revealed how, following the shooting, the IOPC launched what was a politicised homicide investigation against our colleague.
“And we can assure our members that this revelation will be subject to further scrutiny.
“Chis Kaba was a dangerous criminal and this must never be ignored. Sgt Martyn Blake acted within the law and his police training.”
An IOPC spokesperson: “It is wrong to suggest that our decisions in this case were influenced by any external pressures - they were based solely on the available evidence and the legal thresholds we are required to apply.
“Given the significant public interest surrounding this case, our investigation team worked hard to review the initial evidence quickly - including reviewing relevant footage - to ensure that decisions were made in both a considered and timely manner.”
Father-to-be Kaba was shot through the windscreen of an Audi Q8 by Mr Blake, 40, as he tried to ram his way past police cars in Lambeth on September 5, 2022.
After the officer was acquitted, it emerged drill rapper Kaba was a core member of the Brixton Hill-based 67 gang, one of London’s most dangerous.
The Audi was directly linked to three shootings in five months and Kaba would have stood trial for the attempted murder of a rival at Hackney’s Oval Space nightclub had he survived.
Mr Blake is said to be living in hiding, fearing for his life and his family, after a £10,000 bounty was offered in revenge for Kaba’s death to anyone prepared to kill him.
Kaba’s family vowed to continue their campaign in his name.
Clapham and Brixton Hill Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy said his fatal shooting caused pain to his relatives and considerable fear and anger in black communities.
Concerns raised are not anti-police but pro-accountability, she said.
Florence Eshalomi’s Labour’s Vauxhall and Camberwell Green MP, added: “No matter what we think about an individual, we have to remember that for any parent to bury their child is really tragic.”
A BBC spokesman said: “All of our programmes are produced in accordance with the BBC’s editorial guidelines - this includes a commitment to impartiality and hearing a range of perspectives.
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“We encourage people to watch the documentary in full and to make up their own minds.“
A Met spokeswoman added: “We understand the concern any fatal use of police force causes across London and recognise Mr Kaba’s family and friends continue to grieve the loss of a loved one.
“It is right these issues are scrutinised, debated and the voices of all those impacted are heard. But this must be done in a balanced, accurate and responsible way.
“The facts of this case were tried and tested in a criminal court over two weeks.
“A jury of 12 men and women, having heard all of the evidence, found Sgt Martyn Blake not guilty of murder. This verdict must be respected.
“Our focus remains on serving and protecting the communities of London and supporting the brave men and women who step forward to do so every day.”
