Firearms officers on trial to be granted anonymity

The identities of armed police officers charged after opening fire at suspects are likely to stay secret in future unless they are convicted, the home secretary has announced.

- Vikram Dodd

Yvette Cooper's statement to MPs came after the acquittal on Monday of the Metropolitan police sergeant Martyn Blake for shooting dead Chris Kaba in south London in September 2022. The jury took three hours to unanimously find him not guilty of murder.

Cooper said the government would introduce a presumption of anonymity in the rare instances in England and Wales when police firearms officers face criminal charges and trial.

Blake is reported to have faced threats after shooting Kaba, an alleged "core" member of the 67 gang.

Cooper said: "When officers act in the most dangerous situations on behalf of the state it is vital that those officers and their families are not put in further danger during any subsequent legal proceedings, so we will therefore introduce a presumption of anonymity for firearms officers subject to criminal trial following a police shooting in the course of their professional duties, up to the point of conviction."