28 November 2005
For Immediate Release

IPCC to Investigate Complaint from Jean Charles de Menezes’ Family

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) will carry out an independent investigation into allegations raised in a formal complaint from the family of Jean Charles de Menezes.

The complaint alleges that individuals within the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) made false public statements following the fatal shooting of Jean Charles at Stockwell Underground station on 22 July 2005.

To avoid any delay or distraction to the existing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting, a separate investigation will be carried out into the family’s complaint. It will be led by Mike Grant, an IPCC Senior Investigator based in the IPCC’s Central Region, who will be supported by Peter Goode, IPCC Acting Director of Operations.

The family’s letter of complaint refers to the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service and so in accordance with the Police Reform Act, the Home Secretary nominated Mr Grant as the senior investigating officer following a request from the IPCC.

Mr Grant will report to a panel of three IPCC Commissioners: Mehmuda Mian Pritchard, Naseem Malik and David Petch.

A second aspect of the family’s complaint, that the MPS delayed informing them of Jean Charles’ death is to be incorporated into the existing investigation led by IPCC Senior Investigator John Cummins. However this issue will not be completed at the same time as the main inquiry.

The family also raised concerns about why the MPS did not subsequently correct inaccurate information that was in the public domain. The IPCC has explained to the family that the IPCC itself had urged those involved not to comment on the facts of the case and so this will not form part of our investigation.

Nick Hardwick, Chair of the IPCC, said:

“Neither we nor Jean Charles’ family want this complaint to distract us from the main task of finding out how and why Jean Charles died. We still expect our investigation into the shooting to be completed by the end of December. The results of our investigation will be made public once the legal processes are completed.”

Speaking about the new investigation, Mr Hardwick added:

“We will treat this investigation in the same way as any other, although I have asked a panel of three IPCC Commissioners to oversee it. We have not made any assumptions and for the sake of Jean Charles’ family, officers within the MPS and the public at large, will try to establish the truth in an impartial, proportionate and timely way.”

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Notes for editors

Section 19 (3), Part 3, Schedule 3, Police Reform Act 2002 requires the Home Secretary to nominate the senior investigating officer where the IPCC is independently investigating a matter relating to either the Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Service.

For further information please contact:

Rachael Collins, IPCC Press Officer on 020 7166 3142 or the out-of-hours duty press officer on 07717 851157.