PSNI chief inspector under misconduct investigation following social media post linked to officer acquitted of murder

A senior member of the PSNI is being investigated for misconduct in connection with a social media post referring to the promotion of a London-based officer weeks after he was acquitted of murder.

Chief Inspector Andy George, the president of the National Black Police Association, made the comments after it emerged that London Metropolitan Police firearms officer Martyn Black was promoted to inspector after he was acquitted last October of the murder of Chris Kaba.

The PSNI confirmed a “misconduct investigation” was commenced “into an officer following a referral of (a) complaint from the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland”.

“This complaint was deemed to be outside of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland’s legislative remit,” a spokesperson said.

“As these proceedings are currently ongoing, we will not be making any further comment.” The PSNI was responding to a question on Ch Insp George, who remains on duty while the investigation continues.

The senior officer told The Guardian newspaper the decision to investigate him for misconduct “stifles free speech, undermines my ability to represent our members and reinforces the very inequalities we are fighting to address”.

He added: “Policing must be open to scrutiny, not silence those who seek positive change.”

The investigation stems from a November 2024 post accompanying a MailOnline story revealing Mr Blake was promoted to inspector shortly after his acquittal.

Mr George wrote: “Regardless of your feelings on the case, this will come as a slap in the face to the disproportionate number of Black officers under investigation for misconduct and being held back in their own careers! No doubt an impact on Black Londoners as well.”

Mr Kaba was shot dead in south London in September 2022 after the vehicle he was travelling in was stopped by Mr Blake and other officers. The car was driven backwards and forwards in an apparent attempt to escape.

The then sergeant fired a single shot, striking Mr Kaba in the forehead. At trial, Mr Blake said he had feared for the lives of both himself and colleagues.

Following the trial, details emerged of Mr Kaba’s involvement with a gang called the 67. He had multiple criminal convictions including for possession of an imitation firearm and another for possessing a knife.

He was filmed by CCTV cameras shooting and wounding a rival gang member in an east London nightclub six days before his death.

Mr Blake may yet face action by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is still considering whether to pursue him for gross misconduct.

The fatal shooting and the acquittal deeply divided opinion, with many police and others angry at what they believed was an unfair prosecution, while there were protests on the streets by Mr Kaba’s family and friends, with support from some politicians.

The misconduct investigation has its roots in a complaint to the police ombudsman’s office, which was then passed on to the PSNI.

Mr George, who joined the then RUC in 1999 and was for ten years a member of the PSNI’s armed response unit, said: “It is deeply concerning that I am facing misconduct proceedings simply for speaking out on issues that directly impact black officers and communities.