Justice For Jean - no cover up

MENEZES FAMILY BRAND IPCC DISCIPLINARY DECISION A 'SCANDAL'

The family of Jean Charles de Menezes reacted with anger today at the decision by the IPCC not to recommend disciplinary action against the four senior officers involved in the botched anti-terrorism operation that led to the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.

Vivian Figuierdo, cousin of Jean, who lived with him at the time of the shooting said:

"The decision today is a scandal. It is entirely premature for the IPCC to do this before an inquest where vital evidence about the actions of these officers could come to light. Sadly we have come to expect this from the IPCC – they have done nothing to hold the police to account for the killing of an innocent man. Time after time they simply bow down to police pressure and protect the status quo. If the jury at the health and safety trial found the police guilty of catastrophic errors – why is it that no police officer is being held individually accountable? This decision comes at the end of a very difficult year for us; to be told, just before Christmas that not a single police officer will be held responsible has ruined our festive season when we have already suffered enough. It's the worst Christmas present we could get"

Harriet Wistrich, solicitor for the Menezes family said

"Twice the IPCC have invited us to make representations as to the timing of a decision in relation to discipline. On both occasions we strongly urged the IPCC not to announce the decision prior to all the evidence being explored. It is disappointing that the IPCC have disregarded the serious objections raised and that this decision is made before the family's legal representatives have been given any disclosure of the evidence other than the IPCC report. We fear that if new evidence emerges at the inquest it may be harder to bring disciplinary decisions in the future as officers could argue abuse of process"

A spokesperson for the Justice4Jean campaign said

"It is nothing short of a public scandal that despite two lengthy and critical IPCC reports and a damning jury verdict at the Old Bailey, the IPCC and the MPA still cannot find any reason to bring disciplinary action against a single person for the shooting dead of Jean Charles de Menezes. The IPCC has shown it is no better than the discredited Police Complaints Authority that it replaced in holding police to account. The cynical and disgusting timing of this announcement is a clear attempt to bury bad news. It is clearly time for the government to review the effectiveness of the IPCC"