Police face censure for 'chaos' in firearms operation

A DRUNKEN and aggressive man was shot and seriously injured at his home during a "chaotic" police operation in which West Yorkshire firearms officers used "ill-considered tactics", according to a critical report.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said there were lessons to be learned for all police forces following the shooting of Bartholomew Buckley in a domestic disturbance at his home in Whinney Hill Park, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, in January 2009.

The IPCC said the use of a Heckler & Koch G36 carbine – a powerful assault rifle – was "unwise" inside a house because of the penetrating power of its bullets. Its concerns about the use of the G36 will be raised with the Association of Chief Police Officers.

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Five shots were fired from one of the rifles, but only one hit Mr Buckley.

The report said a Glock pistol would have been a better option inside a house. It was only the existence of solid partition walls that neighbours were not put at risk.

Firearms officers were called to Buckley's address in the early hours of January 9 after a 999 call from his partner who mentioned he had a samurai sword and the call handler heard a man shouting threats to kill someone.

He was aggressive and non-compliant when officers entered the house but was not armed, the report said.

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Buckley was later convicted of affray and common assault in relation to the incident and was given a 12-month prison sentence and a 12-month supervision order.

The IPCC investigation concluded in January this year but could not be published until the conclusion of criminal proceedings against Buckley last week.

The investigation determined that, while the officers involved had not committed any misconduct, "there were lessons to be learned for West Yorkshire Police and the police service as a whole from the incident".

In particular, the investigation concluded: "The tactics adopted by the firearms team were ill-considered and put them into a position where they were left with little alternative other than to open fire with live rounds at an unarmed man."

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IPCC Commissioner Nicholas Long said: "In this particular incident a number of factors came together and resulted in a near-fatal shooting.

"Once the officers entered Mr Buckley's house they were met with an aggressive and non-compliant individual.

"Mr Buckley was fully aware he was dealing with armed officers. They shouted commands at him, but whether due to drunken bravado, anger at the situation or plain stupidity, he chose to confront the officers.

"It is only due to luck that Mr Buckley was not killed in the incident. A firearms officer fired five rounds at him, but only struck with one.

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"It is clear there is learning around training and command for West Yorkshire Police in relation to this incident."

West Yorkshire Police said it would carefully consider the report's recommendations.

The force said that the findings had to be viewed in the context of a fast-moving situation which began with a terrified woman calling the police for help saying she feared she was going to be killed by a man armed with a samurai sword.

Police checks revealed Buckley had previously used a samurai sword to attack police officers.

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"When officers arrived at the address, the lady was seen screaming for help and banging on an upstairs window and her life appeared to be in imminent danger.

"When officers entered the property they heard her screaming upstairs and genuinely believed Buckley was attempting to kill her. Buckley confronted officers and was highly aggressive, refused to comply with their repeated challenges and subsequently launched himself at them."