Sal Naseem, the former regional director of the IOPC, claimed that the police were cautioned about the potential for riots if Kaba's death was not treated as a homicide. He noted, 'It was fed back to us... that if we hadn't done it at that time then it's likely there would have been a level of disorder. Things were on a knife edge.' This statement raises significant concerns about external influences on the investigation.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley articulated his belief that external pressures were at play, opposing the IOPC's denial. He stated, 'We believe that campaign groups can influence accountability,' highlighting a sense of mistrust in the investigation process and the pressures law enforcement faces from public opinion.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward expressed concern about the portrayal of Sergeant Blake in the BBC documentary, asserting that the proposed outline was 'unbalanced and inaccurate,' and posed a real risk of exacerbating community tensions. He referenced the unique context surrounding the jury's verdict in Blake's case that was neglected in the documentary.
Matt Cane, the general secretary of the Met Police Federation, indicated that officers were not surprised but still stunned by the documentary's lack of balance. He stated, 'We note that the documentary revealed how, following the shooting, the IOPC launched what was a politicised homicide investigation against our colleague.' This commentary suggests dissatisfaction with the IOPC's actions.
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