Milsurp After Hours

Police worker shot during safety demonstration sues for £300,000

A police civilian worker who was shot with a Dirty Harry-style Magnum during a safety demonstration is suing the force for £300,000 damages.



By Ben Leach

Last Updated: 8:48AM GMT 10 Dec 2008

A police civilian worker who was shot with a Dirty Harry-style Magnum during a safety demonstration is suing the force for £300,000 damages.

The .44 Magnum was made famous by Clint Eastwood's anti-hero Dirty Harry

Keith Tilbury, 51, a control-room operator, was injured after a police marksman's gun went off accidentally.

Mr Tilbury was one of a dozen staff sitting in a semi-circle around PC David Micklethwaite.

The constable was giving a lecture to employees and showing the kind of weapons police officers can come up against.

While he was demonstrating the Smith & Wesson .44 Magnum, the gun used by Clint Eastwood in the Dirty Harry movies, it suddenly went off.

Civilian Mr Tilbury was blown off his chair and thrown half way across the room.

Paramedics managed to stabilise him at the Thames Valley headquarters in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. He underwent life-saving surgery at the nearby John Radcliffe Hospital.

The bullet had miraculously missed all vital organs and passed through his body.

Although still employed by the police Mr Tilbury has not returned to work.

PC Micklethwaite said he had no idea the handgun was loaded with live ammunition.

He was not charged following the shooting but has been taken off firearms duties.

A second official also told an investigation he believed the weapon was unloaded.

Mr Tilbury, of Hersham, Surrey, has taken out a High Court writ against the Thames Valley chief constable.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman confirmed the writ had been received but was unable to make any further comment.

was blown off his chair and thrown half way across the room.

Yeah, right.

PC Micklethwaite said he had no idea the handgun was loaded with live ammunition.

He was not charged following the shooting but has been taken off firearms duties.

A second official also told an investigation he believed the weapon was unloaded.

Good grief! The first thing I was taught before I started shooting was ALWAYS check the weapon before you do ANYTHING ELSE and if you hand someone a weapon do it open so they can see it is not loaded. These 2 should be sent to jail for negligence

What is the handgun laws there in the UK? What is the current status of the wounded officer? Is he expected to make a complete recovery?

MM

The guy shot was not a Policeman but a Civi it says. I would think that the one who fired the shot could be prosecuted under the Health & Safety Laws - 'Duty of Care' - and I would not be at all surprised if the victim didn't sue the Police / Office for a LOT of compensation.

Like I said before, these 2 should go to jail IMO for gross negligence!

It happened quite some time ago, the copper wasnt charged but was taken off firearms duties. The civilian worker recovered......

"

Paramedics managed to stabilise him at the Thames Valley headquarters

(copshop) in Kidlington, Oxfordshire. He underwent life-saving surgery at the nearby John Radcliffe Hospital.

The bullet had miraculously missed all vital organs and passed through his body.

Although still employed by the police Mr Tilbury has not returned to work."

He,s probably so traumatised he needs a huge compensayshun payout.

I read somewhere Brit police shoot more people (themselves included) than they shoot actual criminals.



Joe

amazing the lack of safety procedures by policemen who should know better.

Ah yes, "Only the police and military should have guns."

Amazimg how a revolver cocked itself and fired! BTW in the 37 year history of my range the only accidental shooting occured when we rented it to a policed department. A practice we have suspended.

Whatever else happens, someone deserves an almighty Arse-kicking!

As a kid in the Army cadets, even the 13 year olds knew better than to handle firearms without checking them first.

Tom