News Desk

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPPC) has today confirmed that firearms officer "AZ8" is to face misconduct action after an Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) managed investigation found he made a crass remark to a senior officer about inserting song titles into evidence he gave at the Mark Saunders inquest.

The investigation found however that on the balance of probabilities he, neither acting alone or in conspiracy with other officers, deliberately inserted song titles into his evidence. A senior officer will also face action for his mishandling of the situation.

The investigation, conducted by officers from the MPS Directorate of Professional Standards under the direction of the IPCC, spoke to colleagues of AZ8, witnesses who were in the Coroner’s Court at the time as well as reviewing the transcript of evidence.  

AZ8 had given evidence to the inquest on Monday 27 September 2024 where he outlined his role in the police operation that resulted in the fatal shooting of Mark Saunders. When he left the witness box he entered a room where other firearms officers were waiting and was greeted by a senior officer.

The investigation found that AZ8 made a remark to the senior officer about "getting in two song titles”, something confirmed by officer AZ2. The senior officer  also recalled a specific reference from AZ8 to George Michael - a review of AZ8’s evidence found reference to only one George Michael song, ‘Faith’.  

The investigation concluded that AZ8 had not deliberately inserted song titles into his evidence. However, he did make a comment to a senior officer to the effect that he had. By making the insensitive comment and causing a colleague, and subsequently the public, to believe that he and/or other officers may have inserted song titles into evidence, he acted in a manner that brought the MPS into disrepute. It is on this basis that the investigation found he has a case to answer for misconduct.  

As part of its terms of reference the investigation also looked at the response of the senior officer  to whom AZ8 made the insensitive comment, to see if it was appropriate.  

In relation to the actions of the senior officer  it was found he had immediately informed the MPS lawyer and counsel. However, two later meetings he had with AZ8, where he sought to address the comment and swearing during testimony, were confused and lacked clarity. On this specific point it is found that the senior officer  mishandled the situation and action will now be taken by the MPS to address this.

IPCC Commissioner Tom Davies, said:

"My thoughts continue to go out to the family of Mark Saunders. It will bring them no great relief that this investigation has established that evidence given at the inquest was not callously or insensitively undermined. Instead of being able to close a chapter of their grief when the inquest concluded and focus on their memories of Mark, an ill thought out comment caused them even more anguish.