The Anthony Grainger Inquiry

The Anthony Grainger Inquiry examined the fatal shooting of Anthony Grainger by Greater Manchester Police in March 2012 during a planned firearms operation. The inquiry, chaired by HHJ Thomas Teague QC, published its report in July 2019 containing nine recommendations focused on armed policing practices, training, and equipment.

The Government accepted all nine recommendations in its response of May 2020. The response documented several completed actions, including the publication of a revised Code of Practice for Armed Policing and Less Lethal Weapons in January 2020, and the introduction of a structured Organisational Learning Process led by the National Armed Policing Portfolio. Greater Manchester Police confirmed it had ceased using CS dispersal canisters that had not undergone proper approval processes.

Body worn video became a requirement for Armed Response Vehicle officers, with guidance issued for its use in Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance operations at the point of decisive action. The National Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance role profile was updated to require forces to have three covert vehicles equipped with covert blue lights and two-tones.

However, several recommendations showed work in progress as of May 2020 with target completion dates of 31 July 2020. These included developing accurate threat assessment procedures (recommendation 5), reviewing training curricula (recommendation 6), and resolving complexities around body worn video for covert operations (recommendation 7). Recommendation 9, concerning time limits for armed deployments, required independent expert advice before national guidance could be issued.

No published evidence has been identified confirming whether the work described as ongoing in May 2020 was subsequently completed. The absence of formal implementation reviews or progress updates beyond the initial government response leaves the current status of four recommendations unclear in the public record.