Senior officer could face criminal charges
CROWN lawyers will decide if a highranking GMP officer is to face criminal charges over evidence he gave to a public inquiry into the fatal shooting by police of unarmed Salford man.
Assistant Chief Constable Steven Heywood authorised the operation, which ended in father-of-two, Anthony Grainger, 36, being shot dead by a police marksman.
Mr Heywood had previously been served with a gross misconduct notice by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), formerly the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
A report on that is being considered by GMP.
The force will decide whether to take internal disciplinary action.
The IOPC has now referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).
“The IOPC has now referred evidence to the CPS following our investigation into the evidence given by a senior officer at the public inquiry into the death of Anthony Grainger, who was shot by GMP in March 2012,” the watchdog said in a statement.
“Our investigation looked at the evidence given by ACC Steven Heywood at the inquiry, particularly in relation to how he recorded information in his police log book. “In reviewing the evidence, we have decided that there is an indication that ACC Heywood may have committed a criminal offence. “Our report, along with supportive evidence, has been shared with the CPS to consider if the following offences have been committed – perverting the course of justice, and misconduct in public office.” A second senior officer, Det Chief Insp Robert Cousen, who also gave evidence to the inquiry, had been served with an identical notice. Mr Cousen was the senior investigating officer for the operation. The IOPC has decided there is no indication in his case that a criminal offence may have been committed. Mr Grainger, originally from Salford but living in Bolton, was shot dead by a single bullet fired by a Greater Manchester Police firearms officer through the windscreen of a stolen Audi in a car park in Culcheth, Cheshire, on March 3, 2012. He and two others were in the car outside a supermarket and police thought they were about to commit a IOPC statement robbery. The men were unarmed. Later, Mr Grainger’s two friends were found not guilty of conspiracy to commit armed robbery.
A public inquiry last year heard mistakes were made by GMP.
The inquiry chairman, Judge Teague QC, has handed his report to the force for consideration.
Mr Heywood apologised for ‘poor evidence’ during the public inquiry.
The inquiry had previously heard that the police marksmen involved in the operation were given flawed intelligence on one of their targets, Mr Grainger.
A GMP statement read: “We have received the reports and recommendations from the IOPC related to two serving police officers and now will consider the findings before responding.
“It would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this stage.”
Mr Grainger’s family said they welcomed the decision.