The first test any criminal case must meet before being committed for trial by the Crown Prosecution Service is that there is sufficient evidence to provide “a realistic prospect of conviction”.

This means that a jury, if properly directed by the law, would be more likely than not to convict. Overcoming this obstacle is supposed to be a sine qua non for all prosecutions.

So how could government lawyers have found it justifiable to try Firearms Officer Sergeant Martyn Blake for murder when there was virtually no prospect of conviction.

It took the jury just three hours to acquit him of the unlawful killing of Chris Kaba during a “brutal” police stop – and that was without the jurors knowing that Kaba was a violent and very dangerous gangster.

With reporting restrictions lifted yesterday, he was revealed as the “main shooter” in a notorious Brixton crime syndicate, wanted over two shootings. That’s not to say he deserved to die, but he certainly wasn’t an angel.

Police officers work as people gather outside the Old Bailey after British police officer Martyn Blake was acquitted of the murder of Chris Kaba in 2022.

It took the jury just three hours to acquit him of the unlawful killing of Chris Kaba (pictured) during a ‘harsh’ police check

No evidence was presented that Sgt Blake set out with the intent to kill or that he discharged his weapon recklessly. Indeed, fellow officers said they would have done the same thing in his place.

The jury quickly concluded that Sgt Blake was doing the job he was trained to do: protect the public. As Kaba drove his powerful Audi Q8 like a “ram” against the police vehicles, the officer believed that lives were in danger and therefore took action.

With no realistic prospect of conviction, some suspect the trial was politically motivated.

But there are consequences. Kaba’s gangster friends are now reportedly offering a £10,000 reward to anyone who can tell them where Sgt Blake is, so they can get revenge. It’s really scary.

The Metropolitan Police have received a lot of criticism recently, some of which was deserved. But we must never forget that officers like Sgt Blake put their safety at risk for us every day.

If we want them to continue doing this, we need to support them when the going gets tough – not sacrifice them as pawns in a sordid game of political gestures.

Making polluters pay

Ministers must put an end to this dysfunctional industry once and for all, threatening criminal prosecution if necessary. Pictured: The London skyline

Water companies’ proposal to increase bills by an average of 40 per cent over five years will be seen by customers as a scandal.

They have polluted our seas and rivers with their sewage countless times, incurred unsustainable debts and underinvested in infrastructure while extracting huge dividends and bonuses. They now expect their bill payers to bail them out.

An independent review of the entire sector was launched yesterday, which is likely to result in the scrapping of the toothless regulator, Ofwat. But while this measure is welcome, it alone will not solve the problem.

Ministers must put an end to this dysfunctional industry once and for all, threatening criminal prosecution if necessary. It is high time to make polluters pay for their sins.

Get out of jail for free

More jubilant scenes outside prisons as hundreds more newspapers were released early yesterday as part of Labor’s brilliant plan to reduce overcrowding.

Many were led to waiting luxury cars, including a Rolls-Royce, a Bentley and several Mercedes limousines.

The police must surely be asking themselves why they are bothering to arrest criminals when they are being put back on the streets so soon.