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Cover-up alleged in Menezes case

Hasan Suroor

Police chief faces fresh allegations

LONDON: Britain's police chief, Ian Blair, is facing fresh allegations of a cover-up over the "Menezes case'' after it emerged that he tried to stop an independent investigation into how his officers shot dead Jean Charles de Menezes, an innocent Brazilian electrician, in a south London tube station on July 22 on suspicion that he might be a terrorist.

Within hours of the incident, Sir Ian wrote to the Home Office seeking suspension of rules that automatically oblige the Independent Police Complaints Commission to inquire into such cases.

Official letter released

In the letter, released by the Government on Friday under the new Freedom of Information Act, Sir Ian said: "I believe that in a fast-moving, multi-site terrorist situation, in which suicide bombers are clearly a very strong possibility, a chief officer of police should be able to suspend Section 17 of the Police Reform Act 2002, which requires us to supply all information that the IPCC may require.''

Sir Ian indicated that the IPCC would be given "no access'' to the scene of the shooting and the inquiry would be conducted by the police's own Directorate of Professional Standards. He also sought army style rules of engagement for anti-terrorist officers. His suggestion was rejected by the Permanent Secretary John Gieve and Chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority Len Duvall; and the investigation was handed over to the IPCC.

Contradiction

The letter, which contradicts Sir Ian's claim that he had simply tried to "clarify'' the IPCC's role, increased pressure on him to resign over the way the entire Menezes case has been handled — starting with a series of misleading claims about Menezes' allegedly "suspicious'' behaviour before the shooting.

It has since been established that he did not behave in any manner that could have aroused suspicion that he posed a threat.

Sir Ian has denied allegations of a cover-up and apologised to the victim's family. Menezes' parents, who are currently in Britain to seek an explanation from the police about how their innocent son was gunned down, have refused to meet Sir Ian, insisting that he must take responsibility for the tragedy and quit.

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