The Metropolitan Police has announced that an armed officer, known only as W80, will face a misconduct hearing concerning the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Jermaine Baker. The incident occurred during a failed prison breakout near Wood Green Crown Court in North London in December 2015.
Jermaine Baker, who was from Tottenham, was shot by the officer while police were attempting to stop an effort to free two prisoners, Izzet Eren and a co-defendant, from a prison van. The prisoners were being transported for sentencing on firearms charges when the breakout attempt was thwarted.
In 2017, prosecutors stated there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against officer W80. However, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) pursued misconduct proceedings instead. This led to a prolonged legal battle involving the IOPC, the officer, and the Metropolitan Police, which supported W80 throughout the process.
Following a Supreme Court ruling in July that sided with the IOPC, the Metropolitan Police agreed to hold the misconduct hearing as soon as possible. Despite calls for an external police force to conduct the investigation, the Met decided to proceed with a panel that includes a member from a different police force and an independent lawyer.
Margaret Smith, the mother of Jermaine Baker, has expressed strong distrust of the process with the Metropolitan Police involved and has called for another police force to take charge of the investigation. An IOPC spokesperson also highlighted concerns about public confidence and emphasized the Met’s responsibility to properly conclude the case.
The original case resulted in several men being convicted in 2016 for their roles in orchestrating the breakout attempt. A public inquiry in 2022 concluded that Jermaine Baker was “lawfully killed” but criticized the police for poor planning and execution during the incident.
The upcoming misconduct hearing is seen as a significant step toward holding officers accountable and providing clarity on the events that led to the fatal shooting.
Originally published by UKNIP.
