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Jermaine Baker Inquiry

Completed
Chair HH Clement Goldstone KC Judge / Judiciary
Established 10 Jun 2020
Final Report 05 Jul 2022
Commissioned by Home Office

Public inquiry into the death of Jermaine Baker during a Metropolitan Police Service armed operation on 11 December 2015. The inquiry examined the planning, authorisation and conduct of the operation.

Evidence & Impact
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 during an operation to prevent an attempted prison breakout. 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 detailed formal response in October 2022, outlining specific actions taken or planned across multiple areas. The College of Policing incorporated several recommendations into its updated Authorised Professional Practice on Armed Policing in August 2023.

Published evidence indicates progress in several areas. The MPS reports separating the Strategic Firearms Commander role from investigation teams following an internal review led by DAC Barbara Gray. Training improvements include 172 staff receiving H2 training and over 480 CMP operatives completing awareness courses on accurate note-taking. Equipment changes saw glass hammers replaced with extendable X-ball devices for all firearms officers.

The inquiry's impact extended to broader police accountability reforms. The Police Accountability Rapid Review, published in October 2025 and directly prompted by the W80/Baker case, resulted in government acceptance of raising the use of force test in misconduct cases from civil to criminal standard. Changes to the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 are scheduled for Spring 2026.

However, published evidence remains limited for several recommendations. The development of Standard Operating Procedures for covert monitoring posts awaits national D-DaCS system implementation. The status of the national review of containment and call-out tactics remains unclear. Four recommendations directed to the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee, Home Office, and regarding IOPC powers show no published evidence of specific action, though broader accountability reforms are underway.
Reforms Attributed to This Inquiry
- College of Policing updated Authorised Professional Practice on Armed Policing (APP-AP) in August 2023, incorporating multiple inquiry recommendations
- Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) separated Strategic Firearms Commander role from investigation team following internal review (2021-2022)
- MPS replaced glass hammers with extendable X-ball devices for all firearms officers
- 172 H2 trained staff and 480+ Covert Monitoring Post (CMP) operatives received awareness training on accurate note-taking and dissemination systems
- Police Accountability Rapid Review (October 2025) led to government accepting recommendation to raise use of force test in misconduct cases from civil to criminal standard
- Changes to Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 scheduled for Spring 2026
Unfinished Business
- Development of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for covert monitoring posts pending national D-DaCS system implementation
- National review of containment and call-out tactics status unclear despite MPS support
- Amendment of Armed Policing SOP implementation status unclear
- Criminal Procedure Rule Committee consideration of recommendation 15.21 with no published outcome
- IOPC management action powers (recommendation 15.24) not directly addressed despite broader accountability review
- Simple misconduct proceedings surviving resignation (recommendation 15.25) not specifically addressed in Police Accountability Rapid Review
Generated 18 Mar 2026 using claude-opus-4. Assessment is indicative, not authoritative.
2 years Duration
£4.1m Total Cost
Inquiry Website Terms of Reference
Government Response
Accepted 22
Under Review 4
Total Recommendations 26
Data last updated: 23 Oct 2025 · Source
Data verified: 23 Mar 2026 (import)
How to read this

Government Response tracks what the government said it would do (accepted, rejected, etc.).

Full methodology

2 statements since Jul 2022
Written Ministerial Statement Publication of the Final Report of the Jermaine Baker Inquiry
Baroness Williams of Trafford (Conservative)
05 Jul 2022
Written Ministerial Statement Publication of the Final Report of the Jermaine Baker Inquiry
Priti Patel (Conservative)
05 Jul 2022
All Activity (2)
Title Volume Publication Date Recs Links
Report into the Death of Jermaine Baker - 05 Jul 2022 26
11 Dec 2015
Death of Jermaine Baker

Jermaine Baker was shot and killed by Metropolitan Police officer W80 during an operation in Wood Green, London.

12 Feb 2020
Inquiry Announced

Home Secretary Priti Patel announced an independent inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005.

Source
12 Feb 2020
Chair Appointed

His Honour Clement Goldstone QC appointed as Chair of the Inquiry.

28 Jul 2020
Preliminary Hearing

First preliminary hearing held.

Source
14 Jun 2021
Evidence Hearings Begin

Public hearings commenced, scheduled to run until 6 August 2021.

05 Jul 2022
Final Report Published

The Inquiry's final report was published, making 26 recommendations.

Source
Total Inquiry Cost (Cumulative) £4,063,627
to Jun 2022 Cumulative Total to June 2022
Cost Breakdown (to Jun 2022)
Inquiry Legal Costs £2,292,519 Panel remuneration & Counsel to the Inquiry
Core Participant Legal Costs £595,152 Legal funding for core participants
Other £1,082,266
Total inquiry cost £4.06 million. Category totals exclude FY19-20 (£93,690) which has no breakdown. Chairman and Legal Team costs combined as inquiry_legal_costs. Secretariat Operational Costs and Inquiry-Appointed Experts combined as other_costs.
Cost History
Period Total Inquiry Legal CP Legal Source
Jun 2022 £239,376 £179,444 £3,822
Jun 2022 (cum.) £4,063,627 £2,292,519 £595,152
Mar 2022 £2,314,923 £1,161,855 £447,753
Mar 2021 £1,415,638 £951,220 £143,577
Mar 2020 £93,690 - -
Clear

Recommendations (4)

JB-15.21
Under Consideration
Amend Criminal Procedure Rules for firearms court applications
Recommendation

There should be an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Rules which govern the process in applications for a firearms presence in court – a requirement for witness statements, sworn evidence and the taping of proceedings should all be included.

Published evidence summary
According to the government's response of 1 August 2023, this recommendation was directed to the Criminal Procedure Rule Committee for consideration, with its implementation status unclear. According to the College of Policing's APP-AP update from the same date, work on this recommendation had "Not Started". No specific amendments to the Criminal Procedure Rules related to firearms court applications have been identified on legislation.gov.uk.
Ministry of Justice (Primary)
View Details
JB-15.23
Under Consideration
Written questions as alternative to face-to-face IOPC interviews
Recommendation
Consideration should be given to the introduction of a practice requiring, as an alternative to a face-to-face interview, the submission of a list of questions for written answer within a fixed time – failure to provide which, absent a reasonable … Read more
Published evidence summary
According to the government response of 1 August 2023, as of August 2023, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had called for fundamental reform of the complaints and disciplinary system, and the government announced its intention to commission a review. According to the College of Policing's APP-AP update from August 2023, this recommendation was "In Progress", suggesting it is being considered within the broader reform efforts.
Independent Office for Police Conduct (Primary)
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JB-15.24
Under Consideration
IOPC power to require management action below misconduct threshold
Recommendation
The IOPC should be provided with the power to require a force to take 'management action' in situations that fall short of misconduct but where standards of conduct and/or performance have fallen short of a reasonable public expectation. A force … Read more
Published evidence summary
According to the government response of 1 August 2023, this recommendation was directed to the Home Office as part of a broader review of the complaints and disciplinary system as of August 2023. According to the College of Policing's APP-AP update from August 2023, work on this recommendation had "Not Started". A Police Accountability Rapid Review, published in October 2025, discussed police accountability reforms and led to the government accepting a recommendation to raise the use of force test in misconduct cases, with changes to Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 intended for Spring 2026, indicating ongoing work within the broader accountability framework.
Home Office (Primary)
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JB-15.25
Under Consideration
Simple misconduct allegations to survive officer resignation
Recommendation
Serious consideration should be given to the public interest in amending the current legislation so that allegations of 'simple' misconduct, as distinct from 'gross' misconduct, will survive following a police officer's resignation or retirement. I do not recommend that the … Read more
Published evidence summary
According to the government response of 1 August 2023, this recommendation was directed to the Home Office as part of a broader review of the complaints and disciplinary system as of August 2023. According to the College of Policing's APP-AP update from August 2023, work on this recommendation had "Not Started". A Police Accountability Rapid Review, published in October 2025, covered police accountability reforms including dismissal processes, but according to the review it did not directly address the specific recommendation regarding simple misconduct allegations surviving officer resignation.
Home Office (Primary)
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