That would not surprise me.

If you are a police office told to arrest a man who probably is armed that is an incredibly stressful situation. Not only do you have concerns about your own life but your fellow offices and of course any bystander.

Most likely this was a mistake rather than some Rambo cop, as others have pointed out I don't see how this rises to the level of murder not unless they have evidence of the cop saying "I'm going kill me a .... today".

The lack of senior support for the rank and file is disgusting and just mirrors the lack of support the police generally get from the attention seeking politicians.

Justice needs to be done but this looks like they are hanging him out to dry.

Edited by Badger11 (25 Sep 2023 8.03am)

One more point

There are a lot of conspiracy theories being invented over something none of us knows anything other than what we have read in news reports.

The CPS have decided on a murder charge and they don’t do that lightly or without evidence.

Whether the CPS ought to be involved in such cases is a legitimate question which is apparently going to be reviewed but right now they are.

It would be better for everyone if due process was able to proceed quietly and nothing made public until after a trial but that’s not the world we live in.

I can understand both a bereaved family wanting justice and armed response officers wanting protection. I cannot understand politicians trying to make capital out of either.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I must admit that I was also surprised when I heard that announcement

She might still be waiting for someone to read it for her first.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

Here are 2 possible scenarios from the top of my head that would justify a murder charge. One only plausible in a Line of Duty episode as it would require so much planning and serendipity. However, please just take these as illustrations as I have no idea of the facts.

1. The firearms unit was sent after a "tip off" and the copper paid by e.g. a rival gang to take out the guy in the car.

2. The officers were instructed not to shoot but the copper said, sod that, I'm taking out that "black b*stard". Later searches find ultra right, white supremacist material on him.

Otherwise, it is the lowest level homicide i.e. manslaughter by gross negligence. Even that would be a tall order to prove given the very high burden of proof for any criminal matter and the fact the act occurred under very high-pressured, split-second conditions. If the bloke in the car had firearm connections, the intel was reliable, his behaviour suggested he was going for a gun etc. the case will not hold up, will be chucked out in early stage and prompt the inevitable rioting on the streets and the looting of innocent businesses.

Sorry, just read this.

This is not reliable information but, even if more or less true, there is no way a murder charge should stick.

The only way I can think is if there was a long pause between him deliberately crashing his car into the police road block and the shooting.

I will add that I listen to the Today Program in the morning and they interviewed a relative (mum?). She said was that he was a bright boy and an aspiring architect. No mention of his recent criminal past, the arrest of his mates, what they were arrested for etc. No doubt the BBC shied away from that as that aspect was sub judice!