The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has today announced that there will be a national learning recommendation for armed police officers using out of date intelligence and information when participating in firearms operations.  Accepted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), this recommendation follows an investigation by the IOPC into the fatal shooting of Anthony Grainger in Culcheth in 2012.

A statement issued today by the family’s lawyers, Farleys Solicitors, said:

“We welcome the news that following the Chairman’s Public Inquiry and subsequent recommendations, the IOPC and the NPCC have agreed these were significant failings and changes need to be made to avoid further tragedy in the future”.

Marina Schofield, mother of Anthony Grainger added:

“As a family, we still remain disappointed that despite these acknowledged and documented failings, nine years on, no one has been held to account at any level for the failings that led to the death of Anthony.

 “To date, each disciplinary action or prosecution has failed due to the reliance on untested ‘secret evidence’. Such is the apparent nature of the evidence, even investigators such as IOPC have been unable to access it, and therefore been unable to progress any discipline cases”.

There have been numerous attempts to investigate, discipline or prosecute those involved in the Greater Manchester Police operation that led to Mr Grainger’s death on 3 March 2012; including a five month long Public Inquiry led by HHJ Teague whose comprehensive report was published in July 2019 and a subsequent Judicial Review which took place last week (10th and 11th March).

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Notes to editors

The legal team

Anthony’s family is represented by a legal team with extensive experience of similar cases:

Lead CounselLeslie Thomas QC, Garden Court Chambers, London
Junior Counsel – Adam Straw, Doughty Street Chambers, London
Solicitor –
Jonathan Bridge, Farleys Solicitors LLP, Manchester
Litigation Executive – David Corrigan, Farleys Solicitors LLP, Manchester