UK Daily Mail
Thursday, January 18, 2007 

Comment: They shot an innocent man to death, and then tried to cover it up. Eighteen months later they are to be "critisised". Is that a just punishment?

Metropolitan police chief Sir Ian Blair is among more than 20 officers and civilian staff who will face criticism over their handling of the aftermath of the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.

Andy Hayman, assistant commissioner specialist operations, and colleagues who have since left the force are also expected to be criticised.

Several officers are to be named in a report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission into claims that Sir Ian misled the public over the shooting of the innocent Brazilian at Stockwell Underground station in London.

The inquiry is expected to conclude there was widespread confusion at Scotland Yard in the aftermath. Rumours and gossip were allowed to spread with little co-ordinationof the facts.

Letters warning people that they face criticism - socalled Salmon letters - are to be sent out in the next few days.

The IPCC has also decided to send warning letters to those not directly found to be at fault.

Another letter will go to Deputy Assistant Commissioner Brian Paddick, who gave evidence contradicting Sir Ian's account.

While several senior officers face censure, Sir Ian is expected to be cleared personally of claims that he misled people over the shooting.

The IPCC has now concluded its main investigation and its findings will be made public within months.

However, investigators are not believed to have found evidence of wrong-doing that could lead to disciplinary or criminal action against any officers.

Mr de Menezes, a 27-year-old electrician, was shot dead by police marksmen after being mistaken for a suicide bomber on 22 July, 2005.

The 13-month IPCC inquiry - called Stockwell Two - centred on claims by Mr de Menezes's family regarding comments made by Sir Ian in the aftermath of the shooting.

The most serious was that the Commissioner had tried to defend the action by claiming Mr de Menezes had been challenged and refused to obey police instructions.

There was also concern that police had claimed the Brazilian had vaulted a ticket barrier and had been wearing a bulky jacket when, in fact, neither was true.

The IPCC has also examined allegations that Sir Ian lied over when he knew about the identity of the victim.

In one interview he insisted he did not know police had shot an innocent man until 24 hours later.

Other senior officers are understood to have told investigators that members of Sir Ian's private office knew within hours

Sir Ian has admitted that Scotland Yard had made a 'serious mistake' in failing to correct misleading stories about the shooting.

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