The two police firearms officers involved in the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes are to resume full operational duties, Scotland Yard said today.

Paul Stephenson, the Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner, took the decision to lift the limits placed on the two officers, who have been on restricted duties and not allowed on the street.

The force still has to decide whether either of the officers should face disciplinary proceedings over the shooting.

The decision has outraged the de Menezes family, just six days after the first anniversary of his death.

Asad Rehman, a spokesman from the Justice4Jean campaign, said the innocent Brazilian man’s relatives were "shocked" that the firearms officers involved in the shooting had returned to active duty so soon.

He said the family was "very, very upset" and "in pieces" and described the decision as "premature".

"Every day it seems that the Metropolitan Police just rubs more salt in the wounds," Mr Rehman said. "They could not have been more hurtful."

Scotland Yard is facing a single charge under health and safety legislation over the death of Mr de Menezes, who was shot seven times in the head by anti-terror police at Stockwell Tube station after officers mistook him for a suicide bomber.

In a statement, Scotland Yard said today: "Following the decision by the Crown Prosecution Service that no individual officers should face any criminal proceedings regarding the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes, and due consideration of all available information, the Metropolitan Police has lifted the current restrictions placed upon the two firearms officers.

"Both officers will now resume full operational duties. This case has been considered in line with every case of this nature and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis."

Both officers involved are members of the Met’s specialist CO19 firearms unit.

An initial hearing into the health and safety charge will be heard at the City of Westminster Magistrates' Court on August 14 but the case will not be heard until next year. The summons alleges that the force breached the Health and Safety Act 1974, and that police failed in their duty of care to provide for the health, welfare and safety of Mr de Menezes.

Harriet Wistrich, a lawyer for the de Menezes family, said that discussions were continuing over an application for a judicial review on the decision by the CPS not to charge any police officers over the shooting.

She said that the reasons given to the family in a three-page letter from the CPS failed to provide enough details, and that more information was needed.

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