Relatives of Jean Charles de Menezes have hit out a ruling giving "blanket anonymity" to police.

All 44 officers who asked to remain anonymous when giving evidence at the inquest into the Brazilian's death will have their identities kept secret using screens and pseudonyms.

The applications were approved by Coroner Sir Michael Wright QC at a pre-inquest hearing at Southwark Coroners Court.

Mr de Menezes was shot dead at Stockwell tube station in south London by counter-terrorist police who mistook him for suicide bomber Hussain Osman on July 22, 2005.

The coroner said many of the officers involved have continued to take part in covert anti-terrorism and serious organised crime operations, and their families could be put at risk if they gave evidence without anonymity.

A spokesman for the Jean Charles de Menezes Family Campaign said such "blanket anonymity" hinders public scrutiny of public officials.

He said: "We are deeply disappointed at the provisions for anonymity for all of the police officers which goes against the spirit of an open, transparent investigation."

The family of Mr de Menezes family have said they believe the inquest, due to take place in September, could throw fresh light on how he met his death.

The family are unhappy no individual officer has taken responsibility for the 27-year-old's death despite the prosecution of the Metropolitan Police last year, which led to the force being convicted for a string of errors and fined £175,000.

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