Police to apologise for shooting

Thursday, 13 November 2003 12:00 AM

The Chief Constable of Sussex police is to make the unprecedented move of apologising to the family of a man who was shot dead by officers in 1998.

Chief Constable Ken Jones is to travel to Liverpool to apologise to the family of James Ashley, who was shot during an armed police raid on his home in Hastings in January 1998.

Mr Ashley's home was raided on suspicion of drugs but police officers were mistakenly told that he might be armed. He was shot dead in front of his girlfriend in his flat in St Leonards, Hastings, East Sussex.

Officers shot Mr Ashley whilst he was naked and in bed at point blank range. Only a small amount of cannabis was found in the flat.

Five Sussex police officers were suspended from duty with one constable being charged with murder and manslaughter.

However, the police constable was found not guilty at the Old Bailey in May 2001. The officer claimed that he thought Mr Ashley was going to shoot him and he was acting in self-defence.

Three other Sussex officers (a superintendent, a detective chief inspector and a detective inspector) were found not guilty of misfeasance in a public office.

As a result of the investigation raising matters about Sussex Police's arms procedures, the Chief Constable of Hampshire undertook a separate investigation under the supervision of the Police Complaints Authority (PCA).

The Investigation led to the Sussex Police Authority suspending the Deputy Chief Constable but disciplinary charges were not carried through as he was retired on medical grounds in December 2001.

In December 2001 the PCA recommended that the superintendent and two detective chief inspectors should face a total of 15 disciplinary charges. However, Sussex Police decided to drop the disciplinary charges against the Superintendent.

Mr Ashley's family have been calling for a full public inquiry as they feel there are still many unanswered questions. Mr Ashley's brother told BBC's Five Live that the family welcomed the apology, although the family had written to Sussex Police in 1998 calling for an apology.

In February 2002, Louise Ellman, Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside accused the police of a 'culture of secrecy and cover-up' towards the case.

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