Lambeth council will continue to push for the change needed to ensure fair and accountable policing in the borough and London, council leader Claire Holland said tonight (21 October) after a Metropolitan police officer was acquitted by a jury at the Old Bailey of the murder of Chris Kaba in 2022.
Chris Kaba was shot in his car by police officer Martyn Blake after it had been stopped near Streatham Hill by police cars.
Claire Holland said: “We have witnessed the pain and trauma in our communities caused by the tragic fatal shooting of Chris Kaba in our borough.
“Since his killing in September 2022 we have worked to support both his family and local people in coming to terms with this loss.
“The sense of shock and grief felt at the loss of Chris was felt deeply by his family, friends and the community. We have joined them in mourning his loss, and calling for answers.
“We welcomed the Independent Office for Police Conduct’s decision to investigate and ultimately refer this case to trial.
“The Central Criminal Court murder trial of the Metropolitan police firearms officer who fired the fatal shot has now concluded and we note the not guilty verdict.
“While this closes the criminal investigation into Chris’ killing, the trauma in our communities remains and we are committed to working with local people to find a way for us all to address the pain being felt.
“We will be speaking with Chris’s family and local community leaders about how we can best deal with our collective grief and ongoing community concerns.
“We will also be speaking to the Met and the government to continue the push for change that we need to see in both Lambeth and London to ensure that we have the fair and accountable policing our communities both need and deserve.
“Most importantly, we must see real action to address the failings highlighted by Baroness Casey’s devastating report into the Met and that have most impacted on Black Londoners, women and our LGBTQ+ communities.
“This is a really difficult moment for our borough. The loss of a young person at the start of their adult life, with so much ahead of them, is such a tragedy.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends, particularly at this moment, and we remain committed to supporting them.”
Chris Kaba’s family said in a statement: “We are devastated. The not guilty verdict leaves us with the deep pain of injustice adding to the unbearable sorrow we have felt since Chris was killed.
“No family should endure the unimaginable grief we have faced. Chris was stolen from us, and this decision shows his life – and many others like him – does not matter to the system. Our son deserved better.
“The acquittal of Martyn Blake isn’t just a failure for our family, but for all those affected by police violence.
“Despite this verdict, we won’t be silenced. We are deeply grateful to everyone who stood by us and fought for justice. We will continue fighting for Chris, for justice, and for real change. Chris’ life mattered, and nothing can take that away from us.”
Temi Mwale and Kayza Rose of the Justice for Chris Kaba Campaign said: “The fight for accountability, justice, and racial equity has spanned decades, and we honour all those who have contributed.
“Despite today’s verdict, our commitment remains unwavering. For the Kaba family, justice was never just about a conviction – it’s about systemic change, a fight we will not abandon as a campaign.
“This outcome reinforces the harsh reality that police can kill without consequence. No one can be safe while the police can kill with impunity.”
The campaign said: “True justice for our community must go beyond the criminal legal system. It must deliver real repair, healing, and lasting transformation.”
Daniel Machover and Ellie Cornish of Hickman and Rose solicitors, who represent the family, said: “In this case, the IOPC once again failed to treat the officers involved in a death as suspects from the start, instead labelling them as ‘significant witnesses,’ as is too often the norm.
“After any death following police contact, key officers should be treated as suspects right away, with their status changed to witnesses only if appropriate after an initial investigation.
“Police officers expect to be treated as witnesses, but for real accountability, this needs to change within both the police and the IOPC.
“If a member of the public is directly involved in someone’s death they’re invariably treated as a suspect – why should police officers be different? Public trust depends on holding police to the same standard.”
Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said in a statement that Sgt Blake had made a split-second decision on what he believed was necessary to protect his colleagues and to protect London.
“Any fatal use of force understandably prompts huge concern among communities, particularly in Black communities where trust in policing is low,” he said.
“There remains much for us to do to strengthen confidence in our service, and we know incidents like this place further strain on already challenged relationships.
“No police officer is above the law, but we have been clear the system holding police to account is broken.
“I worry about the lack of support officers face for doing their best, but most of all I worry for the public.
“The more we crush the spirit of good officers, the less they can fight crime. That risks London becoming less safe.
“Our armed officers respond to more than 4,000 incidents each year, but there are only one or two incidents where shots are fired by police.
“It is undeniable that they are the most professional, most accountable and most cautious in their use of lethal force in the world.
“Their operations have prevented countless acts of violence across our city. Last year alone they removed more than 400 guns from our streets.”
