Background: Jermaine Baker’s death and the misconduct investigation
In December 2015, Jermaine Baker, a 28-year-old father from Tottenham, was fatally shot during a Metropolitan Police operation aimed at foiling a prison-escape plot near Wood Green Crown Court in north London. An imitation firearm was later found in the vehicle used by Baker’s group, but Baker himself was unarmed at the time of the shooting. The incident became one of the most debated uses of firearms by UK police in recent memory.
The officer involved, known publicly as W80, is a counter-terrorism firearms officer who had been authorised to carry a firearm since 1998. Following the shooting, W80 was investigated on suspicion of murder, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) concluded in 2017 that there was insufficient evidence to charge him with any offence. A separate public inquiry, concluded in 2022, found that Baker was lawfully killed in the eyes of the inquiry, noting Baker was unarmed, while acknowledging the difficulty of the operation and the presence of an imitation weapon in the vehicle.
From inquiry to disciplinary proceedings
Despite the CPS decision, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) directed that the Metropolitan Police bring disciplinary proceedings against W80 for gross misconduct. The IOPC’s stance reflected ongoing concern about planning and execution of the firearms operation, and its demand for accountability in professional standards within the Met.
The halted misconduct hearing
The Metropolitan Police misconduct hearing at Palestra House took a dramatic turn when, on Wednesday, the panel threw out the case against W80. Chair Chris McKay stated that the panel had decided there was no case for W80 to answer in these proceedings and dismissed the case. The full reasons were to be published within the rules’ five-working-day window.
The panel had been deliberating after reviewing submissions of no case to answer presented on behalf of W80. The process involved an extensive review of more than 3,000 pages of documents and was described by Mr. McKay as a complex case. The decision aims to provide closure for both W80 and Jermaine Baker’s family as soon as possible.
Reaction from officials and implications
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley remarked that W80 had endured a “decade of legal madness,” urging the government to publish reviews and recommendations promptly to protect officers in the future. He emphasised the need for a more just and timely system to sustain the confidence of frontline officers who face dangerous situations daily.
Paula Dodds, Chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, acknowledged the demanding nature of firearms work in London and called for stronger legal protections for officers. She described the IOPC’s actions as questionable and highlighted concern about the duration of the case, while expressing relief that W80 could now move forward with an unblemished record.
Context: legal history and ongoing debate
The case has spanned years of legal dispute. After the 2017 CPS decision, the IOPC pressed for misconduct proceedings. In 2023 the Supreme Court ruled in favor of allowing the misconduct hearing to proceed. Separately, the 2022 public inquiry concluded that Jermaine Baker was lawfully killed, a ruling that has continued to shape public discussion about policing, use of force, and accountability in high-stakes operations.
What comes next
With the misconduct case dismissed, W80 can begin the process of returning to routine duties, subject to internal Met protocols and ongoing professional requirements. The Baker family and those following the case will likely seek continued accountability and clarity from government bodies about reforms recommended during the inquiry and reviews that followed the incident.
