Shooting of James Ashley

For the United States Congressional Representative, see James Mitchell Ashley.

For the British politician, see James Ashley (politician).

James Ashley was a 39-year-old man who was killed during a police raid on his flat in St Leonards, East Sussex, United Kingdom, on 15 January, 1998. Ashley and several of the apartment's other residents were suspected of involvement in large-scale drug deals. Having previously served two years on a charge of manslaughter, Ashley had been involved in a pubroom stabbing several months earlier.

Death

Arising unclothed from the bed he shared with girlfriend Caroline Smith, Mr.Ashley was awakened by his door being kicked in. A torch was shone in his face and and he was shot in the chest by a single bullet that ricocheted before entering his heart. Later police reports indicate that PC Chris Sherwood, part of the 25-officer team storming the apartment, had fired the shot. After the raid, a small amount of cannabis was found in his flat.[1], though the other three residents were released without charge.

Ramifications

DCI Kevin French, who ran the operation, had no training for task he had been given. The intelligence was gathered by DI Chris Siggs, who was not trained for this role. Most of the 25 officers involved had no experience in arresting a potentially armed suspect, nor did they have an internal plan of the house. It is difficult to concieve a more ill-planned police raid intended to arrest an allegedly armed man. The police had to smash their way through a number of doors, ensuring that their prey, if he was indeed armed, was alerted and ready to meet them. Their action on eventually entering Mr.Ashley's bedroom was equally ill- prepared given that the room was in darkness. More experienced policemen were dismissive of the raid and of the opinion that it was a desperate attempt by a "Toytown" force to try and gain some publicity. A more sensible approach would have been to wait for Mr.Ashley to leave his flat for his his morning paper and seize him in the newsagents. This though, would not have had the dramatic effect the police were seeking nor generate the commendations the officers concerned were hoping to gain.

At a press conference, the Chief Constable, Paul Whitehouse, claimed that James Ashley had been wanted for murder but this was untrue. It became clear early on that the police had embarked on a blame-shifting exercise and were easily able to involve the media in this. Mr.Ashley's name was never mentioned in television or press bulletins without the addition of the phrases "convicted murderer" - which he was not - and "criminal from Liverpool," neatly ignoring the fact that criminals come from every town and city in Britain.

Sir John Hoddinott, the Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary later found "suggestive evidence of collusion between some or all of the chief officers of the Sussex force to conceal what they already knew, and that an arguable case of attempting to pervert the course of justice might be made out."

Hoddinott also said that there was evidence of criminal malfeasance and falsehood, neglect of duty, discreditable conduct against the Deputy Chief Constable of Sussex, Mark Jordan, and aiding and abetting the false statements of his chief, Paul Whitehouse. Mr.Whitehouse insisted that he bore no responsibility for the events that had occurred but when the Home Secretary, David Blunkett suggested that he resign, he wisely took that course of action

Constable Sherwood and four other officers were all charged and found not guilty in James Ashley's death. Despite their incompetence, they were all allowed to continue serve.

External link

• Police will say sorry to shot man's family