Risk assessments carried out before a bungled police training exercise in which an officer was shot dead were 'simply not fit for purpose', a court heard.
The National Police Improvement Agency (NPIA), a force watchdog, reached the damning conclusion in a report, the inquest into the death of PC Ian Terry heard.
The report said risk assessments – where managers seek to ensure training is safe - were 'vague and inconsistent' and sometimes out of date.
There was a 'lack of transparency or clear audit trails', and the report concluded the risk assessments were 'simply not fit for purpose'.
The criticisms emerged as Kevin Duffy, a senior officer with the Independent Police Complaints Commission who carried out an independent investigation into the tragedy, was cross-examined by Winston Hunter, QC for the Terry family.
Mr Duffy, a former detective superintendent with Greater Manchester Police, confirmed he had adopted the NPIA findings in his own report into the incident.
The officer agreed that, although he believed GMP's policy on the wearing of body armour during firearms training was 'clear', there was 'inconsistency' in how it was interpreted by officers.
Mr Duffy said he had recommended the force should publish its policy within the force to all officers and supervisors.
He also recommended blank shotgun rounds instead of live ones were used during role-play exercises.
He said the responsibility between two departments responsible for firearms training 'appeared to be blurred' and the departments should be merged.
He also recommended GMP should review its written policy on firearms training as it did not appear to include the use of RIP (Round Irritant Personnel) rounds, the deadly live round which contains white powder and CS gas. PC Terry was killed by a RIP round.
Proceeding
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Esso Blue. Dark Flow/Dark Energy/Dark Matter/ Invisible, Manchester (12/03/2010 at 20:06)
So if his role was to shoot the tyres he knows he as a deadly weapon and he should be aware the safety catch is off. Was the policeman that was shot a threat for other reasons. Something doesn't ring right.
If he didn't want to hurt anyone then he should have shot at the tyres or if he decides he wants to cover the threat at least have the finger resting outside the gun. Is he suffering from diminished mind.
I think he had enough training to know not to point the gun.
Chris and other colleagues had been told never to point a weapon at anyone: And how many other times over the years had he been told to never point a gun at anyone.
Esso Blue. Dark Flow/Dark Energy/Dark Matter/ Invisible, Manchester (13/03/2010 at 22:29)
Chris and the other approaching officers had not been told Pc Terry would be armed, the court heard.
When asked if Chris may have acted in self-defence and to protect colleagues the training officer said: “At no point was Chris presented with imminent and extreme danger. It was a training exercise. I would have expected that an officer of his standing and experience would have been able to follow instructions.”
Donald added that his last words to Pc Terry and his colleague in the car were to warn them to keep their weapons pointed down.
Donald – said he lost sight of the officer, known as Chris, seconds before he pulled the trigger. Donald admitted he was yards away when his view became obscured by a seat pillar seconds before the gun was fired.
Where were all the officers when the guns were handed out?
Mr Mancunian, Sydney Australia (14/03/2010 at 01:21)
You do not point a gun, loaded or otherwise, at anyone let alone pull the trigger. Basic gun handling training & common sense.
It appears to me that the officers involved were not taking their training seriously & that the training officers in charge hadn't 'got a clue'.
Gross criminal negligence in my opinion. And I do have had some experience in this field.
PAH , Manchester (15/03/2010 at 13:40)