Huge weapons haul at scene of police raid where Bradford man was shot dead

Police have appealed for information about a huge stash of weapons found at the home of a man who was accidentally killed with his own gun during a raid by officers.
The haul of weapons discovered at the home of Colin BerryThe haul of weapons discovered at the home of Colin Berry
The haul of weapons discovered at the home of Colin Berry

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said yesterday that there is no evidence to warrant a misconduct case against West Yorkshire Police officers involved in a raid on Colin Berry’s house in Bradford.

Mr Berry, 49, died when a gun went off during struggle with officers in his bedroom at his home in Bradford in 2013.

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Police were carrying out a raid of the house with a drugs warrant. Mr Berry was found by police holding a gun.

It went off during a struggle with officers. Mr Berry died of a shotgun wound to the head.

Following a jury inquest into the 49-year-old’s death, which returned a verdict of accidental death, the IPCC has said its own investigation into the incident found the West Yorkshire Police officers involved had “acted appropriately throughout”

IPCC commissioner Cindy Butts said: “The unarmed officer was taken by surprise when he found Mr Berry had a weapon. He made the very brave decision to try to disarm him.

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“Sadly during the struggle the gun went off resulting in Mr Berry receiving fatal injuries. My thoughts go out to his family and everyone involved in what must have been a very traumatic experience.”

The IPCC said the investigation found officers had acted appropriately – including the decision to enforce the search warrant, to the raid on the house, to the care given to Mr Berry after he was injured.

At the inquest Bradford coroner Neil Cameron had outlined how Mr Berry died to the 11-strong jury, telling them how eight police officers arrived at his house in Buckingham Crescent on April 4 2013. Mr Berry was then found upstairs where the tussle took place.

West Yorkshire Police say 12 live weapons, a crossbow and more than 1,000 rounds of live ammunition were recovered from the property in Buckingham Crescent in Clayton.

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The force is appealing for information from anyone who might have details about how and why he had these weapons in his possession.

Several imitation weapons and a quantity of class A and B drugs were also recovered from the property, after police carried out a warrant at the address in April 2013.

Police believe these weapons will have been amassed over a number of years and would ask anyone with information, no matter how historic, to contact police on 101 or to call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.