Thames Valley officer prosecuted for shooting

Thames Valley Police and one of its armed officers are to be prosecuted after an officer was shot during firearms training.

Keith Tilbury was shot in the stomach in May 2007 at police headquarters in Oxfordshire.

The officer who fired the weapon, David Micklethwaite, and the Chief Constable of Thames Valley Police, Sara Thornton, are accused of breaching health and safety laws.

Mr Micklethwaite was suspended from duty during the investigation, but will not face criminal charges.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which investigates accidents and deaths at work, said: “The HSE is prosecuting Thames Valley Police and Pc David Micklethwaite over alleged breaches of health and safety law.

“This follows its investigation into the non-fatal shooting of a civilian employee of Thames Valley Police Authority during a firearms awareness training session on May 30, 2007.”

Mr Tilbury was shot while he sat in his chair in the classroom with 10 colleagues.

He is suing the force for compensation.

Assistant Chief Constable Brian Langston said: “Thames Valley Police has received notification from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) that they will be prosecuting both the Force and an officer.

“The prosecution is in relation to a firearms incident in which a member of police staff was injured during a training exercise at police headquarters in May 2007.

“As legal proceedings are active, it would be inappropriate to comment further on the case at this time, although full co-operation has been provided to the HSE.

“Thames Valley Police has provided extensive support to all staff involved in the incident and will continue to do so throughout the prosecution.”

The health and safety case will come before magistrates in Banbury on May 15.