The applications were approved by Coroner Sir Michael Wright QC at a pre-inquest hearing into the Brazilian's death at Southwark Coroners Court.

The officers will be given pseudonyms or code-names and those called to give evidence in person will do so from behind a screen.

But the coroner gave some members of the de Menezes family special permission to see the anonymous witnesses give evidence.

Many officers due to give written or oral evidence did not apply for anonymity, including Deputy Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick, the commander responsible for the operation that ultimately led to Mr de Menezes death.

The Brazilian was shot dead at Stockwell tube station, London, by counter-terrorist police who mistook him for suicide bomber Hussain Osman on July 22, 2005.

Giving his reasons for the decision, the coroner said many of the officers continued to take part in covert anti-terrorism and serious organised crime operations. He said this meant there was a genuine fear that officers and their families could be put at risk if they gave evidence without anonymity.

It would also jeopardise their ability to take part in future operations. The coroner said this would cause a reduction of resources at a time of high demand for such operations.

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

The force was convicted at the Old Bailey of a catastrophic series of errors over the shooting and fined £175,000 with a legal costs bill of almost £1 million.