Ex-police officer claims Martyn Blake will have to 'leave his role despite being acquitted': 'His life will never be the same again'

Responding to the criticism, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has launched a fresh probe into the accountability and protections of firearms officers within the force.

Addressing MPs, Cooper affirmed that Britons "have to know that the police have the confidence to take sometimes the most difficult decisions of all, in order to keep the rest of us safe".

Blake's future within the Met Police is now up in air amid reports that his family have been "forced into hiding" and a "£10,000 bounty" has been placed on the officer's head.

Former officer Chris Hobbs claimed that Blake's life will "never be the same again".

Hobbs explained: "It's been difficult for the police force, without a doubt. Police officers were on tenterhooks waiting for the result.

"Fortunately it was a not guilty verdict, because had it been a guilty verdict, then I shudder to think what the reaction would have been of armed officers."

Offering further defence of Blake and fellow armed officers, Hobbs argued that with morale among the force "already on the floor", a guilty verdict for Blake would have "absolutely destroyed it".

Hobbs claimed: "We would have seen an even bigger exodus of officers out of the job than we're seeing at the moment if that had happened."

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When asked by host Dawn Neesom if Blake "should have been named publicly" during the trial process, Hobbs disagreed, stating: "I think that was a serious error by the judge.

"Possibly his name may have crept out anyway because of Kaba's links and so on and so forth, but this publicity that he's been given will mean his life will never be the same again, and he's probably going to have to have to leave his current role. But I'm sure the Met will look after him in terms of finding him a role."

Turning to the discussion of police officers in the force, Hobbs was pressed on whether police officers are being looked after properly by those running the force.

Hobbs told GB News: "I think officers believe that they are not looked after properly. Police officers on the front line, who more or less stay in the front line for their entire careers, will have to witness, perform duty, at around 500 traumatic incidents in their career.

"Whereas, the average person in their lifetime will probably have to cope with 4 or 5 - so they're already under tremendous pressure."

Hobbs continued: "This of course, doesn't help these particular incidents where, as you say, officers are thrown under the bus."

Issuing a warning to any young police officers hoping to join the force, Hobbs stressed: "The way things are at the moment, think very carefully before you want to apply to join, because the challenges are far greater that when I was a young PC.

"I would say to any potential new recruit, think very carefully, go for a ride along with police, which you can do, and talk to experienced officers who will tell you how it is - and at the moment, it's not good."