Four senior Metropolitan Police Service officers have been absolved of disciplinary action in their role in the fatal shooting of Jean Charles De Menezes. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) concluded its review of the Stockwell One investigation on recently (PR 1005), based on recommendations of the Metropolitan Police Service, the Metropolitan Police Authority and the lawyer for the family of Jean Charles de Menezes. The four senior officers included Deputy Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick and three others known by their pseudonyms Silver, Trojan 84 and Trojan 80.

The verdict was announced on the grounds that though there were avoidable lapses, the decision was whether they were to be adjudged as personal misconduct. The IPCC evaluated whether DAC Dick had failed to manage the operation that was his main responsibility on the day of the incident. All evidences considered by the jury resulted in a clear rider of “no personal culpability to Commander Dick.” Since, the duties of DAC Dick and Silver, Trojan 84 and Trojan 80 were interlinked, the IPCC also concluded that no personal blame could be attached to the other three either and hence no disciplinary action. Stating all these reasons and conclusions, the IPCC has sent detailed letters to the MPS, MPA and the Menezes family’s solicitor.

Earlier in the month of May 2007, the IPCC had acquitted 11 other officers of disciplinary action, acting on its responsibility in handling the police complaints system. Since it began working in this capacity in April 2004, the IPCC has taken upon itself the job of improving public confidence in the police complaint mechanism and hopes to make these trails more sincere, candid, impartial and timely. It is served by 15 Commissioners who maintain its independence and by law have never served as police officers or the HM Revenue and Customs.