Met firearms officer NX121 cleared of misconduct after four-year IOPC case

A Metropolitan Police firearms officer identified only as NX121 will not face misconduct proceedings, the Independent Office for Police Conduct decided on 10 June 2026. The ruling closes an investigation that began nearly four years ago and followed NX121’s acquittal at the Old Bailey in 2024.

Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the decision brings an end to what he described as a period of considerable stress for NX121 and his family. Rowley also acknowledged the continuing grief of Chris Kaba’s family, who lost their son in a separate incident involving police firearms in 2022.

Accountability system under scrutiny

The IOPC reconsidered NX121’s case after a change in the law, which the Metropolitan Police said influenced the decision. Rowley welcomed the outcome but used the announcement to criticise the wider system of police accountability, calling it 'out of balance' and 'broken'.

Rowley said officers face multiple legal processes for a single incident, including criminal, misconduct, civil and inquest proceedings. He argued this creates unnecessary delays and deters officers from acting decisively. The Metropolitan Police reported that armed officers respond to more than 4,000 incidents each year, with shots fired in only one or two cases.

Home Office review announced

The Home Office announced a review of the police accountability system on 5 June 2026, following repeated calls from the Metropolitan Police for reform. Rowley said the current system subjects officers to prolonged legal jeopardy, with cases spanning years and multiple investigations for a single incident.

The Metropolitan Police cited several examples of officers facing investigations for actions taken under pressure. In one case, firearms officer W80 was cleared of misconduct a decade after the fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker in 2015. A public inquiry later found Baker was lawfully killed, but the IOPC had directed a misconduct hearing following years of legal proceedings.

In another case, PC Paul Fisher was charged with dangerous driving after colliding with three cars while rushing to a terrorist attack in Streatham High Street in 2020. A jury cleared him in 2023, and the IOPC later ruled he would not face a misconduct hearing. The process took three and a half years.

What happens next

The Home Office review of the police accountability system is expected to report its findings by the end of 2026. The Metropolitan Police said it will continue to push for legislative changes to protect officers who act within the law. Rowley said the force remains committed to timely accountability but warned that prolonged investigations risk undermining public safety.