High Court rules IOPC must review decision not to re-investigate fatal police shooting
A High Court judge has ruled that the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) must re-review its decision not to hold a new investigation into the fatal shooting of a man by a Humberside Police officer.
Lewis Skelton, 31, who had a history of mental health issues, was carrying an axe when he was shot dead in Hull city centre on November 29, 2016, after he failed to respond to police instructions.
The IOPC had concluded that a new investigation was not necessary after an inquest in October 2021 ruled Mr Skelton was unlawfully killed.
Following the High Court ruling, the IOPC said it “will now carefully consider the judge’s comments”.
In a statement, the IOPC said: “Lewis Skelton’s death was a tragedy that has had a profound impact on his family, friends and the wider community. Our thoughts remain with all those affected by what happened.
“The fatal police shooting of Mr Skelton was subject to a thorough investigation, which concluded in 2017, by our predecessor, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
“The investigation examined the circumstances of the incident. Throughout that investigation, the officer who fired the shots was treated as a witness rather than being under investigation for his conduct. The IPCC concluded the officer acted under the genuine belief it was necessary to prevent a threat to life.
“Following the inquest, which concluded four years later in 2021, Mr Skelton’s family asked us to re-open the investigation. In light of this request, and the jury’s verdict that Mr Skelton was unlawfully killed, we carried out a detailed review of both the IPCC investigation and the evidence heard during the inquest.
“The review identified some errors in the original IPCC investigation, however, we did not believe these errors would have materially impacted on the outcome of the investigation. As a result, we did not consider that the threshold was met for us to re-investigate.
“This decision not to re-investigate was subject to a judicial review and we note today’s ruling. We will now carefully consider the judge’s comments before determining our next steps.
“We would once again like to extend our sympathies to all those affected by these tragic events.”
Solicitor Neil Hudgell, executive chairman of Hudgell Solicitors, said they have always felt the initial investigation “fell way below the standards expected as officers’ statements were not challenged sufficiently over the events on the day Lewis lost his life”.
“The IOPC must now look again at this case with renewed vigour. They owe that to Lewis’ family, who have been hugely let down by a complete lack of accountability – and continued denial – ever since the day he was shot,” he said.