Chris Kaba was shot in Streatham (Inquest/PA)
(Picture: PA Media)The family of a rapper shot dead by police are set to be shown footage of the incident - as the staff association representing Metropolitan Police officers insisted there was “nothing to hide”.
The police watchdog has launched a homicide inquiry after Chris Kaba, 24, who was unarmed, died when a single shot was fired into the Audi he was driving following a police chase.
The firearms officer who pulled the trigger has been placed under investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and suspended from duty.
Mr Kaba’s family are now in talks with the IOPC to work out when and where they will be permitted to view footage captured by police bodycams and a helicopter which was used in the chase on 5 September.
An IOPC spokesman told the Guardian it had started negotiations with lawyers about “how best we can facilitate their viewing.”
Meanwhile the Police Federation, the staff association representing the armed officer, has called for him to be permitted to return to duty.
Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh told the Standard: “We have nothing to hide. We agree the family should be able to see the footage. No one should make up their minds before they see what happened. The officer should not have been suspended and should be allowed to go back to work.”
A statement from the Federation added: “Being a firearms officer in London is one of the world’s toughest jobs. Officers - volunteers - know the responsibility/accountability that comes with it and deserve our support. Ill-informed commentary from those in positions of power following any tragic incident is unwarranted.”
Mr Kaba, who had been due to become a father, died after the vehicle he was driving was boxed in by police vehicles in Kirkstall Gardens in Streatham, south London, and one round was fired. The police chase started when the vehicle was flagged by an ANPR camera as being involved in a firearms incident.
The suspension of the officer came after the inquiry was scaled up to a homicide investigation with the officer initially being questioned as a witness. It was backed by Mr Kaba’s family although they said it had been “too slow” in coming.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said the decision by new Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley to suspend the officer was “a really important decision”, which he “fully” supported.
The IOPC has denied that public pressure forced it to launch a criminal investigation.
“Our decision to launch a criminal investigation was based solely on our review of the evidence which indicated a criminal offence may have been committed,” it said.
