Britain’s most senior policeman was fighting to keep his job last night after his force was found guilty of catastrophic failures that led to the shooting dead of an innocent man.

Sir Ian Blair, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, insisted that he would not resign despite an Old Bailey jury verdict that his force conducted an error-strewn operation that ended in the death of Jean Charles de Menezes. The fallout from the Stockwell Tube shooting is set to continue and Sir Ian faces a battle to retain public confidence.

A report by the Independent Police Complaints Commission into the shooting on July 22, 2005, will be published next week and is likely to recommend disciplinary action against senior police officers.

Members of the Metropolitan Police Authority are demanding an emergency meeting at which they intend to table a confidence vote in the commissioner. Lawyers for the de Menezes family will press for an unlawful killing verdict at an inquest and will almost certainly sue Scotland Yard over the death.

Factfile: revelations from the de Menezes trial

Information about the police killing of Jean Charles de Menezes, on July 22, 2005, that has emerged during the trial

Multimedia

• Pictures: Jean Charles de Menezes

BACKGROUND

• Ian Blair survives no confidence vote

• Timeline: how de Menezes identity emerged

• Come quietly, Sir Ian – you’re banged to rights

• ‘It is my task to ensure that lessons are learnt’

Related Internet Links

• Download full report

Related Links

• Will Sir Ian take the blame?

• De Menezes police refuse to recognise mistakes

• ‘It is my task to ensure that lessons are learnt’

Multimedia

• Pictures: the de Menezes case

The Brazilian electrician was shot seven times in the head by two officers who believed, because of a series of communications failures and inaccurate briefings, that he was one of four terrorists on the run after the failed suicide attacks of the previous day.

Gordon Brown and Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, said Sir Ian retained their full confidence. But the Tories and Liberal Democrats said that his position was untenable.

At the end of a five-week trial, the Met was convicted of endangering the public under health and safety legislation.

Mr Justice Henriques ordered Scotland Yard to pay fines and legal costs totalling £560,000. He criticised Sir Ian’s force for adopting “an entrenched position” in refusing to admit any failures in the operation.

Sir Ian said: “This case provides no evidence at all of systematic failure by the Metropolitan Police. I am going to go back to New Scotland Yard to get on with my job.”

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