Metropolitan police deny they are "trigger-happy"
01 January 2003
A Police Complaints Authority Review of shootings by police in England and Wales from 1998 to 2001, that was commissioned by the Home Office, has found that London's Metropolitan police force opens fire too quickly, uses "proactive tactics" and was too aggressive. The study was released at the end of January and focuses on 24 police shootings, and 11 deaths that occurred between 1998 and 2001, concluding that many of those shot were mentally ill or under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The report found that police in England and Wales opened fire in one in every 1,870 firearms incidents, whereas the rate for the Met was one in 913. The Metropolitan police's deputy commissioner, Ian Blair, dismissed the criticisms as "inappropriate" and "ill-advised".
Among the 24 case studies in the report are the Metropolitan police killing of Harry Stanley (Case L). Harry Stanley was shot dead by police officers as he made his way home from his local pub in September 1999, after they received information that he was a terrorist armed with a gun. The gun turned out to be a table leg wrapped in a plastic bag, which Harry had collected after it was repaired. The police officers account of events, that they challenged Harry and that he responded by pointing the plastic bag at them, forcing them to open fire in self-defence, was thrown into doubt by forensic evidence. An inquest, which was preceded by the leaking of a long-spent criminal conviction in an attempt to smear Harry's name, returned an open verdict. This was questioned by the family who argued that the coroner did not allow the jury to consider a verdict of unlawful killing. In February the family won permission at the High Court to apply for a fresh inquest.
Another case study is that of the death of James Ashley (Case A), who was shot dead by the Sussex police force as he lay naked and unarmed in bed five years ago. PC Chris Sherwood was later cleared of unlawful killing at the Old Bailey and three senior officers were cleared of misconduct. A senior officer, Mark Jordan, who faced disciplinary charges, retired on medical grounds and former chief constable Paul Whitehouse resigned on a full pension after the Home Secretary wrote to the Sussex Police Authority demanding action to restore public confidence. James' sister, Pauline Ashley said that:
No one had been punished for the death of my brother and we won't go away until someone is. We want a full and open public inquiry
In its conclusion the report notes that there "are a number of cases that reveal significant problems with the management and administration of firearms incidents, with the culture of firearms units and with the methods of resolution used in a number of incidents" (p. 114). Given the problems in all of these fundamental areas it is surprising to find that the government plans to deal with the official increase in gun crime by increasing armed police patrols. In February it was announced that the Met's SO19 firearms unit would increase in size by a third next April to deal with "terrorism and gun crime."