WIREDGOV

An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation has concluded that operational authorised firearms officers (AFOs) should not be expected to take part in public events which involve live firearms being displayed.

The IPCC has yesterday published its report from an investigation into the discharge of a police firearm at a public event at Nottinghamshire Police headquarters last year, in which a seven-year-old girl was injured.

The incident happened at an event for young competition winners and their families on 30 October, 2014. During an open-air demonstration by authorised firearms officers a live assault rifle was discharged into the ground. The girl received an injury to her lip, caused by the bullet casing.  

The investigation found no protocols or policies were in place, prior to the incident, which dealt with the use of firearms, live or otherwise, at public events. In addition, evidence showed no risk assessment was undertaken, concerning the use of firearms, ahead of the demonstration.

The report states that operational AFOs must have their firearms loaded, making the requirement for the weapons to be unloaded and safe for a community engagement event impossible. Therefore, it would be safer to use non-operational AFOs and training weapons only at such events in the future.

The investigation also found a case to answer for gross misconduct for the officer who fired the weapon for failing to ensure it was safe. After consultation with the force, the IPCC Commissioner decided that the officer should face a gross incompetency hearing.

Following the hearing held by Nottinghamshire Police last month, the officer has been redeployed to a divisional role with no firearm or taser duties.   Another officer, involved in the incident, has since left the firearms department. A third officer has been recommended to undergo further training in the planning of public events.

IPCC Commissioner Derrick Campbell said: “The seriousness of this matter cannot be underestimated. It is through good fortune that no one was more seriously injured.  The officer’s actions, while not deliberate, posed a genuine risk to those present.

“A number of sensible, logical recommendations have been made which  the force has accepted, including replacing live firearms with training weapons at future public events.”

Nottinghamshire Police apologised at the time of the incident to the parents and children who attended.

The final report can be found here.