Chris Kaba: Met Police officers 'very concerned' over shooting suspension

Chris Kaba was due to become a father

Colleagues of the firearms officer who shot dead Chris Kaba are "very concerned" about his suspension, the Met Police Federation's chair has said.

The 24-year-old, who was unarmed, was killed in Streatham Hill, south London, on 5 September.

Ken Marsh said the federation had "no issue with the investigation", but believed the suspension was "based purely on public perception".

Mr Kaba's family have said the officer should have been suspended sooner.

The rapper, who was due to become a father, was stopped by police following a pursuit. His car had been flagged by a number plate recognition camera, the Met said.

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Mr Kaba was shot once and died in hospital about two hours later.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) began a homicide investigation on Friday, while on Monday the Met said the officer who shot the 24-year-old had been suspended.

Mr Marsh told BBC Radio 4's World at One the Met Police Federation had issues about the suspension of the officer.

"My colleagues are very concerned around the suspension," he said.

"It's based purely on public perception, which is a difficult one to take because it makes no odds if my colleague is suspended or not suspended; they're still a police officer and they're better off performing an office job or whatever while this is investigated."

He added that the federation had "no issue with the investigation [into the shooting] whatsoever.

"We've been very upfront, very public about it, but we seem at the moment just to be answering to the public on every necessity when it's not required, because we've been quite clear all the information that is required has been handed over."

The Met Police Federation also said it would have "no issue" with the release of bodycam footage of the shooting, as Mr Kaba's family have called for.

The 24-year-old, who was unarmed, was killed in Streatham Hill, south London, on 5 September

Meanwhile, the Police Federation of England and Wales has hit out at "opportunistic and insensitive" tweets by mental health charity Mind.

The charity faced criticism after a series of tweets in which it offered support to anyone suffering trauma following the fatal shooting.

The charity said: "We need to talk about Chris Kaba. The killing of an unarmed Black man by a police officer is hard to bear. Especially when young Black men die disproportionately at the hands of the police.

"The Queen's death is dominating the news right now, but Chris Kaba deserves our attention. Racial trauma is real. And events like Chris Kaba's death can be incredibly triggering.

"If you're struggling with the news, please reach out. We're here for you."

'Police are people too'

The Police Federation of England and Wales said that, "given the unknown circumstances", the tweets were "opportunistic and insensitive".

"It is disappointing to see this from a reputable charity who also claim to look after the mental health of emergency service workers," a spokesman said.

"There are alternative ways to offer support for those struggling with this news, without driving criticism towards an emergency service.

"The content is alienating and divisive to all police officers who also require mental health support. It is important to remember that police officers are people too."

Vigils have been held in memory of Mr Kaba

In response, Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, said: "We understand that many police officers feel from the post that we are not there to support them, which was not our intention. Nor is it our intention to comment on an ongoing investigation nor to imply any conclusions about the circumstances of this case.

"We are sorry that some of our wording has given that impression. We understand this is an extremely difficult time and are very committed to our work supporting the mental health of police officers and other emergency services personnel."

On Tuesday, a cousin of Mr Kaba told the BBC the family welcomed the decision to suspend the officer who shot him, but said that "the second a criminal investigation was opened he should have been suspended from there".

He added: "It seems like there's no urgency in their dealings with this quite tragic matter."

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan previously said the decision to suspend the officer was "really important" and he fully supported it.

The MP for Streatham, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, has said it "shouldn't have taken public pressure" for the suspension to have happened.

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