Firearms training 'may be revised' after death of Burnley police officer

6:25pm Tuesday 10th June 2008

By Jon Livesey

FIREARMS training exercises may be revised following the death of a Burnley officer.

Ian James Terry, 32, of Red Spar Road, Briercliffe, was playing the role of an armed criminal in the training exercise when he was shot in the chest by a fellow officer on Monday.

PC Terry was taking part in a hard-stop' exercise where officers have to incapacitate suspects in vehicles by blasting a CS gas cannister into the car before other officers pull alongside and shoot out the wheels.

He was sat in the front passenger seat of the stationary Suzuki Vitara jeep when he shot dead by the ammunition, which in this case would have contained a white powder substitute rather than CS gas.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission said that they would be reviewing whether this type of training was suitable as part of their investigation into PC Terry's death.

The IPCC also confirmed that PC Terry, who served with Greater Manchester Police, was not wearing any protective body armour when the blast from the high-powered gun struck him.

An IPCC spokesman said: "We are currently investigating every aspect of the incident. It is normal for shots to be fired in these kinds of exercises because firearm officers need be trained in realistic scenarios, but we will be looking at how the PC officer was shot and whether this form of training is suitable.

"We are looking into whether he should have been wearing body armour. There's a wide range of things to be looked at"

The incident occurred during the exercise at a disused warehouse in Newton Heath, North Manchester.

PC Terry, who is believed to have gone to Barden High School, Burnley, was rushed to North Manchester General Hospital at around 11.30am on Monday, but doctors could not save his life.

Tributes have been paid to PC Terry, who was married to Joanne and has two children aged two and four.

Chris Burrows, Chair of Greater Manchester Police Federation, said: "We send our condolences to PC Terry's family. He will be sorely missed both as a police officer and by his family and our thoughts are with them at this time. We will be working with the IPCC to ensure this incident is fully investigated."

Briercliffe Coun Roger Frost, added: "It's a tragic accident to a highly thought of young public servant and my sincere condolences go out to his young family."

Greater Manchester Police (GMP) also confirmed that full support will now be offered to all relevant parties.

A GMP spokesman said: "A family liaison officer will be working with PC Terry's family, and all officers who were involved in the incident have been offered welfare support. "