The press and public will be banned from even looking at officers linked to the death of 40-year-old Lithuanian man Giedrius Vasiljevas.
Mr Vasiljevas was shot dead at his home in Weston Green, Dagenham, on November 23, 2023.
Described by his family as suffering from long-term mental health issues, he reportedly called police, told them he was suicidal and claimed to have two loaded guns.
He was an intermittent patient of the local mental health trust and known to drug and alcohol dependency service Change Grow Live.
Officers claimed that when they confronted Mr Vasiljevas on his doorstep, he brandished a gun at them.
However, relatives have publicly questioned that claim through a lawyer, saying it is not supported by the limited bodyworn camera footage they have seen.
They have filed a police misconduct complaint.
The incident is thought to have also been captured by Mr Vasiljevas’s Ring doorbell, but the Californian company has so far refused to release the footage and a British coroner has no power to force its disclosure.
In a hearing last month, Newsquest opposed an application by the Metropolitan Police Service to anonymise officers.
Officers involved in fatal shootings are not automatically entitled to anonymity in inquests and the Met accepted there was no evidence or intelligence of any risk to any officer.
But barrister Sarah Le Fevre argued that officers fearing a hypothetical risk was sufficient, and that they would give better evidence if their names were censored.
Senior east London coroner Graeme Irvine wrote in a 10-page ruling: “Regardless of the objective risk posed to any officer, I consider and attach some weight to their subjective fears.”
He said he had also considered “the potential impact of their identification on their future career”, the detriment to the public if they left their jobs, and that they might have hidden their jobs from acquaintances “for reasons personal to those officers”.
He concluded: “Weighing each of the factors set out above… I consider that taken together they outweigh the important principle of open justice.”
Journalists will be banned from even seeing the officers as they testify.
“I consider that it is likely to improve the quality of the officers’ evidence as they are likely to be less anxious if behind a screen,” Mr Irvine wrote.
The inquest is due to take place in October.
Anyone can call the Samaritans charity for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
