NEWS > 09 February 2006

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Monsters and Critics.com - Gla
09 February 2006

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Anger as police cleared of tab

The solicitor of a man shot dead when police mistook the table leg he had been carrying for a shotgun has today voiced his anger at the expected decision not to discipline the officers involved.

Harry Stanley was killed seven years ago in Hackney, east London, when Inspector Neil Sharman and PC Kevin Fagan opened fire on him after receiving intelligence that he had a sawn-off shotgun in a carrier bag.

The officers were originally found guilty of unlawful killing at an inquest, but that verdict was quashed by the high court.

An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) report today is expected to recommend no further action against the two men.

But Daniel Machover, solicitor for the Stanley family, has described this decision as 'deeply disappointing'.

Speaking on the Today programme Mr Machover said he understood the IPCC would follow the recommendations of Surrey police, who conducted their own investigation into the incident.

'Surrey police recommended that the police do not face any disciplinary charges,' he said.

'That will be bitterly disappointing to [Mr Stanley's widow] Irene Stanley, particularly as we understand that the IPCC agrees with us that the accounts of these officers continue to lack credibility. That's a very significant finding in our view, notwithstanding the decision about charges.'

And he said questions now had to be asked about the practice of police officers being allowed to pool their recollections and write up notes together after an incident.

'No other family should have to think immediately after the events there has been a cover-up because suspects in a very serious criminal investigation are allowed to put their notes together after an incident,' he said.

'No other suspect is allowed that privilege, it shouldn't happen with police officers.'

The solicitor agreed this was standard procedure for policing, but he insisted the practice was not appropriate for such a serious incident.

He added: 'Whatever the outcome here I think the police must accept that in this case this system has been discredited and should be put aside.'

Mr Machover said the family had been left with a sense that they had not had justice from the process and now wanted to see 'real changes' as a result of this case.

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Article sourced from

Monsters and Critics.com - Gla09 February 2006

Anger as police cleared of tab

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Monsters and Critics.com - Gla
09 February 2006