IOPC investigation into Bedfordshire Police shooting

We have begun an investigation after a man was shot and seriously injured by Bedfordshire Police yesterday (8 September).

Police were called to Cardigan Street, Luton at around 12.50pm to reports a man was threatening a woman with a knife.

We have established that armed response officers attended and one officer discharged four shots and another officer one baton round which appear to have struck the man once in the arm and once in the leg. He was given first aid at the scene and then taken to hospital with life-changing injuries.

The woman was also taken to hospital with stab wounds, and her condition is not understood to be life-threatening.

We declared an independent investigation shortly before 2pm and sent investigators to the scene of the shooting as well as the post incident procedure (PIP), where the firearms officers involved gave their initial accounts of what had happened.

The firearms countback of the ammunition – where it's established how many rounds were discharged - also took place at the PIP, in the presence of an IOPC investigator.

IOPC Director of Engagement Emily Barry said: “The use of firearms by police officers is rare but where potentially lethal force has been used, it is important that we carry out an independent investigation into the circumstances.

“We can confirm at this stage that all the officers involved are being treated as witnesses because there is no indication they may have breached police professional standards or committed a criminal offence.

“We are in the initial phase of our investigation which is looking at the actions and decisions of officers, including the discharge of police firearms and whether any use of force was reasonable, necessary and proportionate.”

We have secured the police firearms for examination and CCTV and officers’ body worn video have been viewed.