Cop killer

摘要

The recriminations began soon after Jean Charles de Menezes, a Brazilian electrician, was shot dead by London's police on July 22nd. Muslims, the media, the Brazilian government and even sections of the police have condemned the killing of Mr Menezes, who was unarmed and had no apparent links to terrorism. The consequences for those involved-including Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police commissioner-are as dangerous and unpredictable as a ricocheting bullet. But the shooting also menaces a new outfit that was set up to deal with such outrages: the Independent Police Complaints Commission. The IPCC came into existence mostly because its predecessor, the Police Complaints Authority, was seen as too close to the coppers it scrutinised. The new model, which emulates Northern Ireland's police ombudsman, is independent and powerful. It can not only scrutinise internal police inquiries but also hold its own investigations, as it is doing in the case of Mr Menezes. If the IPCC decides that the police have done more than merely err, it can recommend a criminal prosecution.