Row over gun police special rights

Plans to give police marksmen special legal rights sparked a controversy today.

Home Secretary David Blunkett has pledged to review whether officers should be given new protection from criminal prosecution over the way they use their weapons.

It follows a stand-off between London firearms specialists and the Metropolitan Police over the suspension of two officers who shot dead an unarmed man.

Chief Inspector Neil Sharman and Pc Kevin Fagan thought Harry Stanley was carrying a

gun when the painter and decoratorwas carrying a table leg. Today it emerged Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens is lobbying the Home Office to review murder laws to give police marksmen special rights. Mr Blunkett has signalled he is prepared to consider a legal shake-up.

Details of the review emerged after Sir John took charge of the dispute between firearms officers and their bosses this

week. More

than 125 firearms specialists had gone on unofficial "strike" in protest at the suspensions.

The pair were sent home last Friday - five years after the shooting incident - following a ruling by an inquest jury that Mr Stanley was unlawfully killed.

The dispute, which covered nearly a third of the Yard's elite armed response unit, threatened to spread to royalty and diplomatic protection. In a deal with the officers, Sir John promised to press for new laws giving police marksmen greater legal protection when they open fire. The police believe they should not be subject to the same rules as civilians because of the dangers of their role.

Mr Blunkett has received a report from Sir John and is preparing to launch a review.

One controversial possibility is that officers will not face prosecution for fatal shootings as long as they can demonstrate that the force used was "lawful". Critics questioned whether different laws should apply to different people.

Firearms specialists abandoned their protest following Sir John's intervention.