Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC - formerly IPCC)
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IPCC report into fatal police shooting in West Yorkshire published
An Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) investigation into a fatal police shooting in West Yorkshire in 2010 has found the use of force to be consistent with training and legislation.
The West Yorkshire Police (WYP) operation that preceded the shooting at a house in the village of Kirkheaton near Huddersfield was also appropriate, the independent IPCC investigation established.
Alistair Bell was shot by a police marksman after six hours of negotiation. During the negotiations Bell fired live rounds at police and threatened to use explosives.
He had earlier fired at five unarmed PCs, hitting and injuring one, who had been sent to his home on 27 December 2010 following complaints that he had made threats to kill members of the public.
The IPCC investigation also looked at whether WYP’s response to a 999 call about Mr Bell was appropriate and if the containment and negotiation operation was carried out properly. The IPCC found that the response to the 999 call was appropriate and that the operation to secure the area around Bell’s house was carried out in a way that preserved the safety of neighbours.
No finding was made against any West Yorkshire Police officer and there was no learning identified for the force.
Cindy Butts, the IPCC’s Commissioner for West Yorkshire, said: “The police shooting of Mr Bell came after hours of talks to try and persuade an armed man to surrender himself failed. A police officer had already been shot and threats to use explosives were made before Mr Bell was fatally shot.”
At an inquest that ended on 29 January 2013 a jury ruled that all of the shots fired at Mr Bell were justified.