On 4 August Mark Duggan was shot and killed by police. This shooting was the catalyst to the largest uprising since the riots of 1985.
It has since been revealed that the gun found at the scene of the shooting of Mark Duggan may have been used in a crime a week earlier.
Kevin Hutchinson Foster, 29, was this week accused of possession of a firearm during an attack on a man at a Hackney hair salon on July 29.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is investigating whether the gun was the same as the one found when Mr Duggan was shot dead by a police marksman on 4 August.
The watchdog is particularly looking at whether two officers did enough to investigate the alleged incident at the hair salon at the time.
The officers have been put on restricted duties until the investigation has concluded.
Sarah Green, Commissioner of the Independent Police Complaints Commission, said: “Our investigation will consider whether all investigative lines were promptly identified and acted upon by officers from the Metropolitan Police Service and to what extent, if any, the conduct of this investigation may have impacted on the supply of the firearm found at the scene of the shooting of Mark Duggan.”
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) has reviewed the original investigation conducted by two officers from Hackney borough into the actual bodily harm and possession of a firearm with intent incident that took place on 29 July in Kingsland Road, Hackney.
“Due to concerns about the quality of the investigative response the MPS has voluntarily referred the investigation to the Independent Police Complaints Commission.
“They have informed us that they will conduct an independent investigation. The MPS has put both officers on restricted duties pending the outcome of this investigation.”
Ms Green added: “We have informed Mr Duggan’s family of the situation today and IPCC family liaison managers continue to be on hand to support Mr Duggan’s family while investigations continue.
An official report on the shooting of Mark Duggan has determined that he was unharmed when shot by the police. The gun found 10 feet away from Duggan’s body did not have his DNA or fingerprints on it.
