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The Anthony Grainger Inquiry

Completed

Anthony Grainger Inquiry

Chair HHJ Thomas Teague QC Judge / Judiciary
Established 18 Jul 2016
Final Report 11 Jul 2019
Commissioned by Home Office

Inquiry into the fatal shooting of Anthony Grainger by a Greater Manchester Police firearms officer during a surveillance operation in 2012. Found GMP failed to plan the operation to minimise recourse to lethal force.

Evidence & Impact
The Anthony Grainger Inquiry examined the circumstances surrounding the fatal police shooting of Anthony Grainger in March 2012 during a Greater Manchester Police operation. The inquiry, chaired by HHJ Thomas Teague QC, published its report in July 2019 with nine recommendations focused on improving armed policing practices, intelligence assessment, and operational procedures.

The government accepted all nine recommendations in its response of May 2020. Implementation has shown a mixed pattern, with five recommendations (56%) completed and four (44%) stalled. The completed reforms include establishing a structured organisational learning process for armed policing, publishing a revised Code of Practice for Armed Policing and Less Lethal Weapons, and implementing requirements for body-worn video for Armed Response Vehicle officers.

Notable progress includes Greater Manchester Police's proactive amendment of procedures regarding weapons and ammunition before the government response, and the integration of thematic inspection requirements into HMICFRS's PEEL process. The National Police Chiefs Council has taken leadership on several recommendations with national implications.

However, significant work remains outstanding. Most notably, recommendation 9 regarding maximum duty periods for firearms officers shows no evidence of progress despite commitments made in 2020. The NPCC and College of Policing stated they would seek independent expert advice before issuing national guidance, but no such advice or guidance has materialised in the subsequent years.

Three other recommendations remain in progress with no recent updates. These include the complex review of intelligence assessment processes (recommendation 5), the review of Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance training (recommendation 6), and the full implementation of body-worn video for covert operations (recommendation 7). The government response acknowledged operational implications and complexities in these areas, but the absence of progress updates since May 2020 leaves their current status unclear.

The inquiry's impact appears strongest in areas requiring procedural changes and equipment standards, while recommendations requiring more fundamental reviews of operational practices have progressed more slowly.
Reforms Attributed to This Inquiry
- The National Police Chiefs Council established a structured Organisational Learning Process under the National Armed Policing Portfolio Lead, incorporating lessons from IOPC reports, inquests, and operational reviews
- The revised Code of Practice for Armed Policing and Less Lethal Weapons was approved by the Home Secretary on 14 January 2020 and published, establishing clear approval processes for new less lethal weapon systems
- Greater Manchester Police amended its North West Armed Policing Standard Operating Procedure on Weapons and Ammunition to address concerns about CS dispersal canisters
- Body-worn video became a requirement for all Armed Response Vehicle officers, with guidance issued for use in Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance operations
- National Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance role profile now requires forces to have three covert vehicles equipped with covert blue lights and two-tones
Unfinished Business
- National guidance on maximum continuous duty periods for authorised firearms officers remains undelivered despite NPCC and College of Policing commitment in May 2020 to seek independent expert advice
- The review of intelligence assessment processes to prevent exaggerated threat assessments (recommendation 5) remains incomplete
- The review of Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance training and guidance (recommendation 6) has not been finalised
- Work on body-worn video options for officers in covert roles continues with unresolved logistical and legal complexities
Generated 28 Feb 2026 using AI. Assessment is indicative, not authoritative.
2 years, 11 months Duration
Government Response
Accepted 9
Total Recommendations 9
Data last updated: 21 May 2020 · Source
Data verified: 25 Mar 2026 (import)
How to read this

Government Response tracks what the government said it would do (accepted, rejected, etc.).

Full methodology

6 questions 4 statements since Jul 2019
Written Question Public Inquiries
Simon Hoare (Conservative)
02 Dec 2025
Written Question Public Inquiries
Simon Hoare (Conservative)
02 Dec 2025
Written Question Anthony Grainger Inquiry
Mrs Theresa May (Conservative)
19 May 2020
Written Question Police: Firearms
Mrs Theresa May (Conservative)
19 May 2020
Written Question Police: Firearms
Mrs Theresa May (Conservative)
19 May 2020
View all 10 mentions →
All Activity (10)
Title Volume Publication Date Recs Links
The Anthony Grainger Inquiry Report into the Death of Anthony Grainger Final 11 Jul 2019 9
11 Mar 2016
Inquiry Announced
18 Jul 2016
Inquiry Established
11 Jul 2019
Final Report Published
Clear

Recommendations (9)

AG-1
Accepted
National Register of Armed Policing Recommendations
Recommendation
A national policing body should manage a national register of recommendations relating to armed policing, and the response to such recommendations, arising from Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) reports, prevention of future death reports made in the course of … Read more
Published evidence summary
The government's May 2020 response stated that the National Armed Policing Portfolio Lead (NAPP) introduced a structured Organisational Learning Process. This process reportedly incorporates lessons from IOPC reports, prevention of future death reports, and statutory inquiries concerning fatal police shootings, and links to the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (Government Response to the Anthony Grainger Public Inquiry, May 2020). No further public updates or details on the ongoing operation or public accessibility of this process or a specific national register have been identified since May 2020.
National Police Chiefs' Council (Primary)
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AG-2
Accepted
HMICFRS Thematic Inspection of Armed Policing
Recommendation
Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) should conduct a thematic inspection or inspections concerning: (i) the selection and training of officers authorised to use weapons requiring special authorisation; (ii) the selection and training of officers … Read more
Published evidence summary
HMICFRS stated in May 2020 that it considered the recommendation for a thematic inspection of armed policing and determined that its improved PEEL inspection process, which was to be implemented in 2020/21, would provide the most proportionate way to address the issues raised (Government Response to the Anthony Grainger Public Inquiry, May 2020). No specific thematic inspection report on armed policing directly resulting from this recommendation has been identified, nor have any further public updates on how the PEEL process specifically addressed these concerns since May 2020.
HMICFRS (Primary)
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AG-3
Accepted
Code of Practice on New Weapons Approval
Recommendation
The Home Secretary should ensure that the new Code of Practice on Police use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons contains an express prohibition on the use of a new weapon system by the police service until the approval process … Read more
Published evidence summary
The Home Secretary approved a revised Code of Practice for Armed Policing and Less Lethal Weapons (LLW) on 14 January 2020, which was subsequently published on GOV.UK (Government Response to the Anthony Grainger Public Inquiry, May 2020). This revised Code explicitly prohibits the use of new weapon systems by the police service until the specified approval process has been completed, directly addressing the recommendation (Armed policing and police use of less lethal weapons: code of practice, published on GOV.UK).
Home Office (Primary)
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AG-4
Accepted
North West Armed Policing SOP Amendment
Recommendation
The North West Armed Policing Standard Operating Procedure on Weapons and Ammunition should be amended so that it only permits the use of new specialist munitions that have been approved in accordance with the Code of Practice for Armed Policing … Read more
Published evidence summary
The government's May 2020 response indicated that Greater Manchester Police (GMP) had informed them of actions taken to address the recommendation regarding the North West Armed Policing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Weapons and Ammunition (Government Response to the Anthony Grainger Public Inquiry, May 2020). The recommendation sought an amendment to permit only new specialist munitions approved in accordance with the Code of Practice for Armed Policing and Less Lethal Weapons. No specific public document detailing the amendment to the North West Armed Policing SOP has been identified since this 2020 statement.
Greater Manchester Police (Primary)
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AG-5
Accepted
GMP Intelligence Policy for Armed Deployments
Recommendation
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) should design and promulgate a written policy that specifically relates to the collection, analysis and dissemination of intelligence for the purposes of planned armed deployments within the meaning of the Armed Policing module of Authorised Professional … Read more
Published evidence summary
The government's May 2020 response stated that the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) agreed to lead on designing a written policy for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence for planned armed deployments, with input from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) (Government Response to the Anthony Grainger Public Inquiry, May 2020). Work was planned with a target completion date of 31 July 2020. However, no public update confirming the completion or publication of this policy has been identified since May 2020.
Greater Manchester Police (Primary)
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AG-6
Accepted
MASTS Documentation and Training Clarity
Recommendation
All documents and training relating to Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance (MASTS) should: clearly differentiate between MASTS as an operational method of supporting surveillance (and delivering a standard range of tactical options), and the additional tactical options of 'intervention' and … Read more
Published evidence summary
The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) took responsibility for this recommendation, which involved a review of Authorised Professional Practice (APP), the National Police Firearms Training Curriculum (NPFTC), and associated policy (Government Response to the Anthony Grainger Public Inquiry, May 2020). In May 2020, the government reported that a review of the Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance (MASTS) module of the NPFTC and its guidance specifically addressed some aspects of the recommendation, with further work planned for completion by 31 July 2020. However, no public update confirming the full completion of this work or the publication of revised documentation and training has been identified since May 2020.
National Police Chiefs' Council (Primary)
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AG-7
Accepted
Recording of Firearms Operations
Recommendation
During post incident proceedings following a police shooting, NPCC should consider the advantages of: Recordings of the communications of firearms commanders and authorised firearms officers (AFOs); And video recordings from the body-worn video cameras of AFOs and police vehicles involved … Read more
Published evidence summary
The government's May 2020 response indicated that body-worn video (BWV) is a requirement for Armed Response Vehicle officers and used by Specialist Firearms Officers when deployed overtly, with the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) issuing guidance to encourage BWV use in Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance (MASTS) operations (Government Response to the Anthony Grainger Public Inquiry, May 2020). At that time, work was ongoing to identify BWV options for officers in covert roles, with a target completion date of 31 July 2020. No public update confirming the completion of this covert BWV work or addressing the recording of communications from firearms commanders and officers has been identified since May 2020.
National Police Chiefs' Council (Primary)
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AG-8
Accepted
MASTS Vehicle Identification Equipment
Recommendation
The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) should consider whether to recommend equipping unmarked vehicles used in Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance (MASTS) interventions with apparatus designed to identify to subjects that those conducting such interventions are police officers - specifically … Read more
Published evidence summary
The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) informed the government that the National Mobile Armed Support to Surveillance (MASTS) role profile, also known as the National Resource Standard, requires forces to equip three covert vehicles with covert blue lights and two-tone sirens (Government Response to the Anthony Grainger Public Inquiry, May 2020). This standard ensures that unmarked vehicles used in MASTS interventions have apparatus designed to identify police officers, and the National Police Firearms Training Curriculum (NPFTC) provides further guidance on their use. No further public updates have been identified since May 2020.
National Police Chiefs' Council (Primary)
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AG-9
Accepted
Maximum Continuous Duty Period for AFOs
Recommendation
The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing should jointly decide, in the light of independent expert advice, whether there should be a maximum period of time during which authorised firearms officers (AFOs) are permitted to remain … Read more
Published evidence summary
In May 2020, the government reported that the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing intended to seek and consider independent expert advice regarding a maximum continuous duty period for authorised firearms officers (AFOs) before issuing national guidance (Government Response to the Anthony Grainger Public Inquiry, May 2020). The response noted that current guidance did not specify a time limit. However, no public updates confirming that this expert advice has been sought or that new national guidance has been issued have been identified since May 2020.
College of Policing (Primary)
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