Police ‘omnishambles’ in delay over former officer’s hearing
A POLICE force has been accused of an “omnishambles” for delays in misconduct proceedings against an assistant chief constable alleged to have misled a public inquiry into a fatal shooting.
Steven Heywood, who retired from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) in October 2018, is alleged to have breached force standards of honesty and integrity when giving evidence at a public inquiry into the death of Anthony Grainger, 36, who was shot by a firearms officer in a car park in Culcheth, Cheshire, in March 2012.
A gross misconduct hearing heard Mr Heywood admitted a firearms log from the days leading up to the shooting was completed retrospectively and he did
not initially tell the inquiry he had not filled it in on the date shown. Mr Heywood’s barrister, John Beggs QC, called for the misconduct proceedings to be stayed as he said the force had breached regulations by delaying the hearing.
He said: “There really is, to quote that rather unpleasant vernacular, an omnishambles going on. It’s unfair to Mr Heywood, who gave exemplary service to the public, but it is also unfair to other participants and unfair to the public.”
Gerry Boyle QC, representing GMP, said Mr Heywood’s firearms log, which was used in evidence in the 2017 public inquiry, contained inaccurate information about Mr Grainger’s previous convictions.
Mr Heywood was referred to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) reviewed his evidence and found he may have committed a criminal offence. He was not charged. The hearing continues.