A relative of an innocent Brazilian man who was fatally shot by a Scotland Yard officer expressed her shock upon discovering that undercover police had surveilled her family following the botched anti-terror operation.
During a public inquiry, Patricia Armani Da Silva shared her distress at the revelation that undercover officers had monitored her family’s pursuit for justice after the tragic death of Jean Charles De Menezes at Stockwell underground station in South London on July 22, 2005. She described the surveillance on their campaign as “unsettling.”
The innocent electrician was shot seven times in the head a day after being mistakenly identified as a suspect in a failed terror attack. Met police chief Sir Ian Blair initially connected the shooting to an ongoing anti-terror operation, but it was later admitted that Jean Charles had been shot in error.
The Undercover Policing Inquiry disclosed that the Met Police had deployed multiple undercover officers to observe the family’s quest for justice. Ms. Armani Da Silva expressed her discomfort at the thought of their presence, emphasizing her deep upset over the police’s actions.
The ongoing phase of the Undercover Policing Inquiry is scrutinizing the activities of the Metropolitan Police Special Demonstration Squad (SDS) between 1993 and 2007. Ms. Armani Da Silva conveyed feeling “really disrespected” by the police’s treatment following Jean Charles’ death.
She emotionally recounted how the family was uninformed about Jean Charles’ shooting for over 24 hours and was misled initially to believe he had been arrested for terrorism offenses. The lack of direct communication from the police left her feeling neglected and distressed.
Further details revealed how the family was isolated in a hotel with restricted communication, surrounded by police officers. Ms. Armani Da Silva perceived this as a manipulative tactic by the authorities.
The family’s justice campaign aimed to seek accountability for Jean Charles’ death and uncover the truth behind the shooting. Although no officers faced prosecution for the killing, the Met received fines for breaching safety regulations. The family’s legal challenge over the lack of charges against police officers was unsuccessful.
The inquiry exposed troubling tactics by male police officers, including the use of fake identities, infiltration of political groups, and surveillance of family justice campaigns. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Jon Savell acknowledged the unjustifiable surveillance and expressed regret for the distress caused to those affected.
He reiterated the Met’s apology for the improper conduct during that period and emphasized the importance of ethical guidelines and governance in modern policing. The Commissioner extended condolences to Jean Charles de Menezes’ family and friends, emphasizing ongoing reforms in undercover policing practices.
