De Menezes family attack Tube finding

LONDON - The family of Jean Charles de Menezes yesterday condemned the decision not to charge any of the police officers involved in shooting dead the Brazilian as "completely unbelievable".

Instead, the Metropolitan Police organisation is to be charged with breaking health and safety laws, for which it could be fined.

The killing of Menezes, an electrician, a year ago has become one of the most controversial shootings in UK police history.

Alex Pereira, a cousin of Menezes, said it was "completely unbelievable" that no charges were being brought against individual officers. He said the Menezes family in Brazil "are shocked about the decision. They are completely disappointed about what they heard this morning."

Patricia da Silva Armani, another cousin, said: "I am very disappointed. I was expecting a negative reply and it is shameful."

Menezes was killed a day after four men failed in an attempt to set off bombs on a bus and Tube trains in London. He was mistakenly identified as a terrorist suspect.

An inquiry by the Independent Police Complaints Commission criticised the Met for its organisational failure in terms of surveillance and communications between the command centre and the officers on the ground.

Prosecutors said there was "insufficient evidence" to prosecute any of the individual officers involved in the operation for murder or manslaughter. The Met will be prosecuted for allegedly not taking reasonable steps to protect Menezes, under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The trial is unlikely to begin until late next year.

- INDEPENDENT