Jermaine Baker Inquiry

The Jermaine Baker Inquiry, chaired by Clement Goldstone QC, examined the fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker by a Metropolitan Police firearms officer on 11 December 2015. The inquiry's final report, published in July 2022, made 26 recommendations focused on improving armed policing practices, command structures, training, and accountability mechanisms.

The government accepted 22 of the 26 recommendations (85%), with four remaining under consideration. The Metropolitan Police Service provided a formal response in October 2022, detailing actions taken on recommendations directed to them. Key documented changes include the College of Policing's comprehensive update to the Authorised Professional Practice on Armed Policing in August 2023, which incorporated multiple inquiry recommendations.

Specific operational changes within the MPS include the separation of the Strategic Firearms Commander role from investigation teams following an internal review led by DAC Barbara Gray, and the replacement of glass hammers with extendable X-ball devices for all firearms officers. The MPS reported significant improvements in covert monitoring training, with over 480 operatives receiving awareness training on accurate note-taking and dissemination systems.

The inquiry's recommendations on police accountability gained renewed attention following the W80 misconduct case. The Police Accountability Rapid Review, published in October 2025 and led by Tim Godwin and Sir Adrian Fulford, was directly prompted by the W80/Baker case. The government accepted the review's recommendation to raise the standard of proof for use of force in misconduct cases from civil to criminal, with regulatory changes intended for Spring 2026.

However, evidence of progress remains incomplete for several recommendations. As of August 2023, eight recommendations were marked as 'In Progress' with no subsequent updates available. Four recommendations directed to bodies including the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee and regarding IOPC powers show no published evidence of action. The MPS has not developed a Standard Operating Procedure as recommended, citing the pending national D-DaCS system as the reason for delay.