Thames Valley Police fined for health and safety inadequacies

Thames Valley Police have been fined £40,000 following an incident where an employee was shot during firearms training.

PC David Micklethwaite was conducting an awareness programme about firearms for new civilian staff. He took what he thought to be dummy rounds from an unmarked sweet tin and loaded the gun, which he then proceeded to fire straight at civilian worker Keith Tilbury. Mr Tilbury was hit in the stomach causing grievous injuries. Following the accident he had to be hospitalised and treated in the Intensive Care Unit and he has not yet been able to resume duty.

HSE investigations revealed gross negligence in safety procedures. There were obvious risks in storing live and non live ammunition together and although Thames Valley Police had identified this risk, they had failed to follow their own safety measures properly, which lead to the accident.

The officer responsible for the incident was also found guilty and fined separately. Both the police force and the officer also need to pay costs amounting to some £25,000 and £5,000 respectively.