Reaction to Menezes court verdict

Jean Charles de Menezes was shot dead by Met officers

The Metropolitan Police has been found guilty of breaching health and safety laws over the fatal shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes.

Reaction to the verdict of the Old Bailey jury was divided over the implications for the force.

ERIONALDO DA SILVA, MENEZES FAMILY FRIEND

Today is an emotional moment for us.

I have spoken to Jean Charles's mother, Maria, and she said nothing can bring him back, but she's at least pleased that the men and women of the jury have found the Metropolitan Police guilty of the charge.

We will not rest in our fight for justice.

HARRIET WISTRICH, MENEZES FAMILY SOLICITOR

The family are pleased that these proceedings have come to a conclusion, and look forward to being able to effectively participate in the inquest that must now follow.

The police defence team descended to the gutter, seeking to shift the blame onto the innocent victim from their own wrongdoing.

We deplore the tactics of the defence and the smearing of Jean Charles' name.

SIR IAN BLAIR, COMMISSIONER, METROPOLITAN POLICE

It's important to remember that no police officer set out on that day to shoot an innocent man.

As the judge noted, the failures alleged were not sustained nor repeated.

This case thus provides no evidence at all of systematic failure by the Metropolitan Police, and I therefore intend to continue to lead the Met in its increasingly successful efforts to reduce crime and to deter and disrupt terrorist activities in London and elsewhere in the United Kingdom.

JACQUI SMITH, HOME SECRETARY

The death of Jean Charles de Menezes was a profoundly shocking tragedy and the Menezes family have my deepest sympathy.

This was a complex case which raised a number of important issues for policing. We will consider carefully the implications of the verdict with the police service.

The commissioner and the Metropolitan Police remain in the forefront of the fight against crime and terrorism. They have my full confidence and our thanks and support in the difficult job that they do.

DAVID DAVIS, SHADOW HOME SECRETARY

The trial has shed light on the serial failures that led to the tragic death of Mr De Menezes.

The failures were systemic, falling within the clear responsibility of the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. His position is now untenable, in light of these findings and the overriding need to restore public confidence.

We think the jury is right to say Cressida Dick should not be blamed for this failure.

NICK CLEGG, LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOME AFFAIRS SPOKESMAN

This guilty verdict makes it unavoidable that Ian Blair should take responsibility on behalf of his whole organisation and resign.

It's absolutely nothing personal about Ian Blair. I have a lot of admiration for him.

I just start though from a very simple principle that policing needs to be seen to be accountable.

GEORGIA LAW, COMMUTER WHO WAS ON THE UNDERGROUND TRAIN AS MR MENEZES WAS SHOT

I'm concerned that the police are going to be deterred from doing their jobs because they're afraid of what will happen to them if they make a mistake.

I feel very sorry for Mr Menezes's family.

But if he had been a terrorist and that train had been allowed to leave the station, I probably wouldn't be here.

KEN LIVINGSTONE, MAYOR OF LONDON

Police officers operated against suicide bombers in conditions of extreme danger - and subject to strains - both of risk to themselves and of their desire to safeguard Londoners lives, that no one not in their position can understand.

Health and safety legislation was not drawn up for such extreme situations.

This verdict makes the struggle to defend Londoners against terrorism more difficult. The shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes was a tragedy but the safety of all Londoners must not be undermined in a struggle against terrorism that goes on every day.

LEN DUVALL, CHAIR OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE AUTHORITY

We must remember an innocent man died during the course of a Met police operation - this is damning enough. Our thoughts continue to be with the Menezes family and friends, together with those of the other victims.

We need to remember that there were a number of simultaneous police operations during that time that were successful but the Authority is determined to minimise the possibility of such a tragic event happening again.

The MPA fully supports the commissioner and will continue to work with him, his management team and all MPS staff to achieve high quality policing so that everyone in London can gain and retain confidence in the Met.

SHAMI CHAKRABATI, DIRECTOR, LIBERTY

I think it's very sad that it's taken two-and-a-half years for there to be any semblance of accountability.

I think, crucially, we've not yet seen the Independent Police Complaints Commissions report about what happened, and I would jolly well expect that report to be issued within the hour.

Otherwise we will be asking questions about the robustness and the viability of that fledgling commission.

GLEN SMYTHE, METROPOLITAN POLICE FEDERATION CHAIRMAN

The judge said this was a one-off, that the Met has an unblemished health and safety record.

I think we should remember that this was a trial about health and safety, not about an individual and certainly not about the commissioner

KEN JONES, ACPO PRESIDENT

The service welcomes public scrutiny - we are not above the law.

However, during counter-terrorism operations, sadly we now know that situations will inevitably arise which have no precedent.

Under such circumstances, it will be extremely difficult for commanders to totally identify and create plans to mitigate risk.