The misconduct hearing for a firearms officer with the Metropolitan Police, who fatally shot a man during an attempted prison escape in 2015, has been terminated.

The officer, referred to only as W80, fatally shot Jermaine Baker when police intervened to thwart a plan to abduct two inmates from a vehicle near Wood Green Crown Court in north London.

These misconduct proceedings against W80 were initiated following years of legal disputes surrounding the incident.

He faced allegations of violating professional standards related to the use of force.

The hearing held at Palestra House was dismissed, as the panel concluded there was no case to address.

Jermaine Baker, a father of two from Tottenham, north London, was shot at close range by W80, a counter-terrorism firearms officer who believed Baker was reaching for a weapon.

At the time, Baker was seated in the front passenger seat of a stolen vehicle, where an imitation firearm was subsequently discovered.

Chris McKay, the panel’s chairman, stated that the detailed rationale for the conclusion would be released within the following five working days.

W80 belonged to an elite unit of firearms officers designated for counter-terrorism and had been trained for armed duties since 1998.

In 2017, prosecutors determined that there was insufficient evidence to file criminal charges concerning the shooting, yet a police oversight body mandated that misconduct proceedings be initiated against the officer.

This decision led to a protracted legal struggle between the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the officer, who received backing from the Metropolitan Police.

In 2023, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the IOPC, allowing the misconduct hearing to proceed.

Additionally, a public inquiry into the circumstances of Mr. Baker’s death concluded in 2022, stating that he had been lawfully killed.

Paula Dodds, the chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, characterized the role of a firearms officer in London as “one of the most challenging jobs globally.”

“Police officers are held to the highest level of accountability among public servants. However, it raises serious concerns when an officer responsible for safeguarding the public from dangerous criminals endures a case hanging over them for a decade. The protracted duration of this case is alarming.”

“There is a pressing need for decision-makers in the criminal justice system to appreciate the environment in which we operate and the realities of policing in London.”

IOPC director Amanda Rowe expressed her sympathy for Mr. Baker’s family, friends, and those affected by his death.

“This situation underscores the complexities within the police accountability framework, which allows for legal challenges and prolonged delays that harm the confidence of the public and the officers involved,” she remarked.

“We fully acknowledge the toll these delays have imposed on Mr. Baker’s family, the officer in question, and all those affected.”