PROBE INTO MENEZES OFFICER EVIDENCE

The Special Branch officer, named only as Owen, deleted a line in his computer notes last week, which claimed Deputy Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick initially said the Brazilian electrician could "run onto Tube as not carrying anything".

But he has told Mr de Menezes's inquest: "On reflection, I looked at that and thought I cannot actually say that."

An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) spokesman said: "This matter will be subject to an independent investigation and we are not in a position to comment further at this stage."

He said the line was removed on October 7 - more than two weeks into the hearing at the Oval cricket ground - because he "didn't see it as relevant."

He deleted more than he had intended because he was in a rush to get to an appointment, he claimed.

Saying he was now not sure who had actually said "let him run", he added: "All I can say was that one of the options was letting him run because he was not carrying anything and that there's a disagreement between management.

"I believe it was the commander but when I reflected I couldn't be sure or whether she was saying this is what we are going to do or this is one of the options. It was a woman's voice."

Minutes later, Ms Dick effectively directed the shooting of Mr de Menezes by ordering a "hard-stop", Owen added.

He said: "A hard stop is an aggressive stop. It's not an official term but it is an aggressive stop."