WIREDGOV

A Ministry of Defence police constable has received a final written warning after his actions in making contact with a fellow officer with the muzzle of a loaded MP7 gun, were found to constitute misconduct.

The IPCC investigated the actions of the officer following the incident on 3 April 2016, during shift changeover procedures at the Bamfurlong Gloucestershire Police Armoury. During the arming and disarming process, it was reported that the officer had deliberately pointed the muzzle of his loaded MP7 carbine into another officer’s body armour, pushing lightly on the weapon; which appeared to be a deliberate act. There was no apparent argument or altercation leading up to the incident. Neither of the two other officers in the armoury at the time witnessed what was alleged to have happened.

After analysing all of the evidence, it was the IPCC investigator's opinion that the officer had a case to answer for gross misconduct, being a serious breach of the Standards of Professional Behaviour. While the accused officer denied deliberately making contact with his colleague, stating that the contact was inadvertent as he moved his weapon in the cramped conditions of the armoury, it was the investigator's opinion that a reasonable panel could conclude that the incident was not accidental.

The disciplinary panel found insufficient evidence to show that the officer deliberately pushed the MP7 into the chest of his colleague. However the panel was satisfied that the actions of the accused officer were dangerous and that he failed to show sufficient care and attention in a manner amounting to misconduct.

The case was heard over a three day hearing which ended on 12 July 2017. The IPCC investigation was completed in December 2016 and the outcome has awaited the hearing.

This incident involved Ministry of Defence officers only.