Ananova:

The family of Jean Charles de Menezes have reacted angrily after the two police firearms officers involved in his fatal shooting were cleared to return to full operational duties.

They were said to be "very, very upset" and "in pieces" at the prospect of the officers resuming work with Scotland Yard's specialist CO19 firearms unit on the streets of London.

Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Stephenson took the decision to lift the restrictions on the two officers after crown prosecutors decided that neither should face charges over the innocent Brazilian's death.

In accordance with protocol, both were immediately suspended from operational duties in the wake of the shooting. However, as of now, they are free to return to live firearms work.

That has outraged the de Menezes family, who mourned the first anniversary of his death just six days ago.

Mr de Menezes, 27, was shot seven times in the head by anti-terror officers at Stockwell Tube station in south London on July 22 last year after being mistaken for a suicide bomber.

The family's spokesman Asad Rehman, from the Justice4Jean campaign, said his relatives were "shocked" the firearms officers had returned to active duty so soon and that they felt the decision was "premature". "Every day it seems that the Metropolitan Police just rubs more salt in the wounds," Mr Rehman said. "They could not have been more hurtful."

However, Glen Smyth, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation and leader of its rank and file officers, welcomed the officers' return to work. "These officers have much-needed skills and a vital job to do - the protection of people who live, work or visit the capital," he said. "The fact that their services are once again available should be welcomed by Londoners."

Scotland Yard said the decision to lift the restrictions on the officers had been made after "careful consideration of all the available information". "Both officers will now resume full operational duties," the force said. "This case has been considered in line with every case of this nature and decisions are made on a case-by-case basis."

The force confirmed that there were "other officers" who remained on restricted duties as a result of the de Menezes case, but refused to say how many.