Two Metropolitan Police firearms officers, identified only by their call signs NX1 and MY55, have been cleared of misconduct following a protracted six-year legal battle. The officers were involved in a 2018 armed operation targeting a violent robbery gang in south-west London.
The incident took place on December 3, 2018, during a carefully planned sting operation aimed at a gang notorious for cash-in-transit van robberies. Officers were monitoring a suspicious vehicle in Wimbledon believed to be connected to the gang. The passenger’s unusual behaviour, lying down in the back seat, raised suspicion among the police.
As gang members Brooklyn McFarlane and Abdi Omar approached a cash-in-transit van on foot, firearms officers including NX1 and MY55 moved in to confront them. Identifying themselves as armed police, the officers challenged the suspects. When McFarlane attempted to flee, both officers each fired a single shot, believing him to be armed and posing a serious threat.
McFarlane was injured in the shooting, but the event triggered years of legal challenges and revealed significant issues in police oversight. In January 2020, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) passed evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), resulting in charges against NX1 and MY55 for grievous bodily harm with intent. Additionally, gross misconduct hearings were initiated.
However, on the first day of their trial in October 2021, the CPS dropped all charges after re-evaluating video footage and expert testimony, acknowledging there was no realistic prospect of conviction.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley criticised the prolonged delays that caused considerable stress to the officers and their families. He highlighted the disparity in the speed of clearing police involved in terrorism cases compared to those involved in armed criminal incidents.
Despite the CPS dropping charges, the IOPC proceeded with the gross misconduct hearings, which concluded with the officers being fully exonerated. This case has sparked debate about the potential impact on armed officers’ willingness to serve on the front line.
Commissioner Rowley has called for urgent reforms to create faster and fairer police accountability systems. As the Metropolitan Police advocate for these changes, this case underscores the significant toll on officers risking their lives to protect the public.
In a related development, Brooklyn McFarlane was sentenced in November 2022 to 13 years in prison after being convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery, weapons offences, and handling stolen goods.
Originally published by UKNIP.
