No evidence police commited any criminal offence in shooting (From Daily Echo)

No evidence police commited any criminal offence in shooting

2:20pm Friday 3rd October 2008 in Chandler's Ford Raid

There is no evidence that police marksmen who shot dead two armed robbers committed any criminal offences, independent investigators said today.

Officials from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) have completed their inquiry into the Chandler's Ford shootings.

The results will be aired in public for the first time when inquests into the deaths of Mark Nunes and Andrew Markland are heard.

Deborah Glass, of the IPCC, said officials uncovered no evidence of criminal acts or misconduct by the armed officers.

But she admitted investigators found ''issues'' around the planning of the Flying Squad operation.

Mrs Glass said: ''Our investigation looked into the actions of the officers firing the shots at Mark Nunes and Andrew Markland as well as the planning, decision making and implementation of the police operation.

''From our investigation, although there are issues around the implementation of the operation that will be explored further at the inquest, there is no evidence to indicate that officers may have committed any criminal or misconduct offences.

''This has been an extensive inquiry and we will pass our report to the coroner. We will publish our full findings after the conclusion of the inquest taking into account any further evidence given there.''

Nunes and Markland were shot as they attempted to rob a security van parked outside a bank in Chandler's Ford on September 13 last year.

One officer shot Nunes as he held a gun to the head of a guard and a second officer shot Markland twice as he attempted to pick up the gun.

The IPCC investigation ran alongside the criminal inquiry and employed scenes of crime officers, forensic experts and a firearms ballistic expert.

Investigators obtained 268 witness statements, 332 exhibits and 423 other documents.