Officers transferred from gun duties after Burnley PC's death (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Officers transferred from gun duties after Burnley PC's death

2:01pm Wednesday 9th September 2009 in

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FRONTLINE firearms experts have now been transferred to other duties by police chiefs following the shooting death of a Burnley constable.

PC Ian Terry, 32, from Briercliffe, was shot and killed in June 2008, during a Greater Manchester Police (GMP) training exercise at the former Sharp electronics factory in the city’s Newton Heath district.

Each of the nine qualified instructors involved in preparing or carrying out the live firing exercise, which resulted in PC Terry’s death, have now been found other positions.

GMP Assistant Chief Constable Garry Shewan said: “Following receipt of the Independent Police Complaint Commission's report, which raised quest-ions over the officers’ judgements, we have cond-ucted a detailed assess-ment of the report and associated documents.

“Following this assess-ment we have taken the decision to remove these officers from firearms duties.

“This is not a decision we have taken lightly and it has been based on all of the information now available to us that we have received as part of this ongoing investigation.

“I hope it is appreciated that it would not be appropriate for us to comment further ahead of the inquest.”

An officer who was responsible for firing the fatal shot has already been excluded from firearms work.

No officer, nor the Greater Manchester force itself, will face criminal charges over the death of PC Terry, a decision criticised by PC Terry’s family.

But the Health and Safety Executive is still cond-ucting its own investigation into the incident and may bring charges independently.

The Manchester coroner is also still set to hold a full inquest into the death of PC Terry.

He was s father-of-two, from Red Spar Road, Briercliffe, who is buried in St John the Evangelist Church.

PC Terry was struck by a shotgun cartridge while undertaking a training exercise with the force.