Fatal raid officers face action

Three officers from Sussex Police will face disciplinary action over the fatal shooting of James Ashley, the Police Complaints Authority said today.

A superintendent and two detective chief inspectors will face a total of 17 disciplinary charges over the planning of the raid on Mr Ashley's flat in St Leonard's, near Hastings, East Sussex.

Although not named by the PCA, it is understood the three officers are Superintendent Christopher Burton, 44, Detective Chief Inspector Kevin French, 48, and Detective Chief Inspector Christopher Siggs, 42, who were all cleared of misconduct charges at a trial in Wolverhampton earlier this year.

Mr Ashley, 39, was naked and unarmed when he was hit by a single bullet fired at close range as police burst into his flat at 4am in January 1998.

The Home Secretary has already intervened once in the case, effectively forcing the resignation of Sussex chief constable Paul Whitehouse.

Earlier this week we reported that, Sussex deputy chief constable Mark Jordan, 43, who authorised the raid, and who has been suspended on full pay for the past three years - is to receive a full pension of £45,000 a year.