National learning recommendation accepted following fatal shooting of Anthony Grainger

A national learning recommendation to ensure steps are taken to prevent armed police officers from using out-of-date information and intelligence when they take part in firearms operations been accepted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).

The recommendation follows an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) into the fatal shooting of Anthony Grainger in Culcheth in 2012.

Our original investigation focused on the actions of Greater Manchester Police (GMP) and the firearms officer, known as Q9. This concluded in 2013. Following the conclusion of the Anthony Grainger Public Inquiry (“the Public Inquiry”) in 2019, we considered new evidence which came to light during the Inquiry and produced an addendum to our original report in May 2020.

Following the Public Inquiry and our investigations, we have recommended to the NPCC lead for Armed Policing that if a Tactical Firearms Commander (TFC) or Operational Firearms Commander (OFC) becomes aware that an officer’s exposure to prior information or intelligence may adversely influence their assessment of threat and risk, they should take steps to address the issue including considering whether the officer should take any further part in the operation.

In the case of Anthony Grainger, the intelligence and information used by the officer during the operation was the same provided in a briefing for a separate firearms operation two days earlier. However, our investigation found that this was not a key cause of the shooting that led to Mr Grainger’s death.

The learning recommendation can be found in full here.

Director for Major Investigations Steve Noonan said: “It is clear from our investigation and the Public Inquiry that the officer who fatally shot Anthony Grainger had access to information that was not current or relevant to the operation on Saturday 3 March 2012.

“While ultimately no wrongdoing by the officer has been found, we want to ensure police forces learn from the death of Mr Grainger by making sure that only the most up to date information is used when Commanders are considering deploying firearms officers.

“We want the public to be confident that future operations are planned and carried out based on the highest quality intelligence – and if there is any doubt around the currency or accuracy of the information available to an officer, that could impact assessment of any threat, then proactive steps can be taken prior to deployment.

“My thoughts continue to be with Mr Grainger’s family.”

Following the conclusion of the Public Inquiry, GMP referred several matters to the IOPC. These referrals led to three separate independent investigations which began in March 2020.

The first of these investigations is complete. This investigation examined the conduct of a serving GMP officer and their management of two firearms officers’ training records. Our report has been provided to GMP who agreed with our findings that the officer has no case to answer for misconduct.

A second investigation, into former Assistant Chief Constable Terry Sweeney, former Superintendent Mark Granby and a former Chief Inspector regarding their command and control of the policing operation has been discontinued. A third investigation in relation to GMP’s acquisition of a CS dispersal canister which was not approved by the Home Office, and was used during the policing operation in which Mr Grainger died is still continuing.

Further information on the three investigations can be found here.

The IOPC will not be making any further comment at this time.