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UK: Investigation into police shooting of unarmed man widens

01 September 1998

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James Ashley was naked and unarmed when shot dead by police in January during a 4am raid on his flat. Five officers from Sussex Police have so far been suspended in an investigation conducted by Kent Constabulary and supervised by the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) (see Statewatch, vol 8, no 3 & 4). An initial inquest in May heard that investigators were being hampered by officers unable to remember crucial facts about the incident. Interim proceedings at Hastings Coroner's Court during July then heard that the inquiry had been split into two sections: one covering misfeasance and the other the shooting. Barbara Wilding, heading the inquiry, has already called the operation flawed and shambolic and the Crown Prosecution Service has received the initial case files; a final report had been expected in late August.

Sussex chief constable Paul Whitehouse had been very quick to defend the operation and told the media that Mr Ashley was a dangerous criminal. Reports conflicting with this "intelligence" soon emerged and were later corroborated by the PCA; the family alleged defamation by Mr Whitehouse; and of the initial suspensions, four officers faced allegations of providing misleading information that led to the armed raid.

Then, in late July, came an unprecedented announcement from the Sussex Police Authority that a second inquiry would take place into the conduct of the chief constable and three of his assistants (deputy chief constable Mark Jordan and assistant chief constables Nigel Yeo and Maria Wallace). The investigation is headed by Hampshire chief constable John Hoddinott and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Mr Ashley's family in Liverpool is also preparing to make a damages claim against the police for the loss of life and use of lethal and excessive force.

Hastings Observer 31.7.98; Guardian 27.8.98; Independent 30.8.98.

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