Met officer misconduct case dropped after Jermaine Baker shooting
A long-running misconduct proceeding against a Metropolitan Police firearms officer, known only as W80, has been discontinued. The case related to the 2015 fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker during a foiled prison break near Wood Green Crown Court in north London was halted after the panel ruled there was no case to answer.
What happened in 2015
Jermaine Baker, a father of two from Tottenham, was sitting in the front passenger seat of a stolen car when W80, a counter-terrorism firearms officer, opened fire. Police later found an imitation firearm inside the vehicle. Prosecutors had previously said there was insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges, but the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had directed that a misconduct hearing proceed. The shooting occurred during a fast-moving operation to stop a suspected plot to snatch prisoners from a van outside the court.
The legal journey and the decision
The misconduct case against W80 became a lengthy legal saga, marked by battles between the watchdog, the IOPC, and the Metropolitan Police, with the officer receiving support from his force. In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled in the IOPC’s favour, allowing the misconduct hearing to go forward. The hearing at Palestra House was ultimately thrown out after the panel concluded there was no case to answer. Chairman Chris McKay noted that the full reasons would be provided within five working days.
Reactions from families, officials, and policing bodies
Mr Baker’s family voiced deep distrust in the process. His mother, Margaret Smith, said the family had little faith in the gross misconduct hearing and asked for privacy to grieve. Outside New Scotland Yard, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley defended the outcome as appropriate, stressing that officers acted in the face of a real threat during a split-second operation. He also urged authorities to rethink how policing decisions are reviewed with hindsight and criticized the use of delayed proceedings that can affect officers’ livelihoods.
Paula Dodds, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, described policing in London as among the toughest jobs. She emphasized the need for understanding the realities of policing environments when decisions made in the field are judged later. The IOPC’s Amanda Rowe acknowledged the human impact of delays and the complexities of accountability systems in police oversight, while reiterating the aim of balancing public safety with fair, timely processes.
What this means for policing accountability
The case’s termination raises questions about how accountability mechanisms balance swift, necessity-driven actions by officers against the rights of individuals to challenge use of force. Advocates on both sides argue that transparency is essential, but there is also concern that overly protracted proceedings can erode confidence in law enforcement and in the justice system.
Commissioner Rowley’s comments highlighted a broader call within policing for reforms that prevent “legal madness” from dragging on cases that involve split-second judgments under threat. The incident itself was part of a broader debate about the safety of officers performing high-risk duties, and the legal framework governing forensics, prosecutions, and misconduct inquiries.
Looking ahead
With the case closed, the Baker family continues to memorialize Jermaine privately, while the Met and oversight bodies reflect on how best to handle future investigations. The dismissal of the misconduct hearing will likely fuel ongoing discussions about reforms to precision in reviewing officer actions taken under emergency conditions, the speed of accountability processes, and the safeguards around public trust in policing.
