London's newest memorial

This is London's newest memorial and it is in memory of Jean Charles de Menezes, the Brazilian who was shot dead by Metropolitan Police Officers during an anti-terrorist operation that went so horrendously wrong on the 22nd July 2005. It is a memorial that fills me with shame. Shame that I was/am part of the security services that are sworn to protect the innocents in society and bring to justice those that cause terror and criminal acts against the rest of society. On that day, something went very awry with the police operation that was surveilling a possible terrorist suspect following the bombing of the London tube and bus services a few weeks earlier. An agent in a O.P. failed to keep observation on the door of the suspects address as he/she was away answering a call of nature . Then in the street and away from the address he/she spies JeanCharles walking past them in the street. A call gets put out to the surveillance team that is nearby and they tail Jean Charles in the street and then onto a bus. At no time as I understand it have any of them identified Jean Charles as definitely being the suspected bomber that they were meant to be looking at. Equally, he was never ruled out fully as he very much resembled who they were looking for. Police surveillance officer 'Ivor' followed Jean Charles onto the bus and then off the bus into Stockwell Underground Station. 'Ivor' called this in and continued to follow Jean Charles onto a tube train. 'Ivor' sat three seats away from Jean Charles continuing to observe him. The train was still stationary at the platform with the doors open when the specialist armed officers of the Metropolitan Police CO19 firearms team came running onto the platform. 'Ivor' stated at the inquest that he had thought the 'intelligence' picture had changed and shouted to get the attention of the CO19 officers. 'Ivor' jumped up out of his seat and grabbed hold of Jean Charles de Menez . pinning his arms by his sides in a bear hug. To all intents and purposes and according to some observors, 'Ivor' had Jean Charles de Menez under control. Can you imaging 'Ivor's' surprise when the CO19 officers shot Jean Charles in the head whilst in his grip? According to some reports in the press that I recall reading at the time 'Ivor' was physically thrown from the train by a CO19 ooficer and had a gun pointed at him by another. He stated that he was frightened of being mistaken for a terrorist and being shot himself. I feel sorry for 'Ivor' in so many ways, as had this not ended up with the shooting of an innocent man, but he had grabbed an armed terrorist. Then 'Ivor' almost certainly would have been in line for a bravery award and probably a George Cross. In contrast, the officer in charge on the day of this fatal shooting of an innocent man has been awarded a Queens Police Medal in the New Year honours list for 2010.

My sincerest condolences to the family of Jean Charles.