Force admits breaches of health and safety over PC’s death in firearms training.

Greater Manchester Police has pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety law over the death of one of its officers during firearms training in what was dubbed a “justice milestone” for his family.

PC Ian Terry (32) died in June 2008 during an exercise at Newton Heath, when he was shot. He was not wearing body armour.

On January 22 at Liverpool Crown Court, the force pleaded guilty to the charge of breaching section two of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974.

Two GMP firearms officers, whose identities are protected by a court order, have also denied one count each of breaching section seven of the same act.

This compels employees “to take reasonable care for the health and safety of himself and of other persons who may be affected by his acts or omissions at work” and to co-operate with colleagues in their duties “so far as is necessary to enable that duty or requirement to be performed or complied with”.

The prosecutions were brought by the Health and Safety Executive, following its own investigation.

In a statement, an HSE spokesman said: “We welcome Greater Manchester Police’s guilty plea. Ian’s death has caused his family considerable suffering and grief, and today marks a significant milestone in securing justice for them and for Ian.

“We will not be saying any more at this time as there is an ongoing prosecution against the two individual officers, who have entered not guilty pleas.”

The force will be sentenced for the breach on March 20 at Preston Crown Court. The maximum penalty is an unlimited fine.

The two officers are due to appear at Manchester Crown Court in June for a trial. A spokeswoman for the force declined to comment.

Officer Shooting Death: Force Guilty