James Ashley
Encyclopedia
James Ashley was a 39-year-old man who was shot dead by armed police
while unarmed and naked, during a raid on his flat in St Leonards
, East Sussex
, United Kingdom
, on 15 January 1998. Ashley and several of the apartment's other residents were suspected of involvement in large-scale drug deals. Having previously served two years on a charge of manslaughter
, Ashley had been involved in a pubroom stabbing several months earlier, although only in so much as a friend of his attacked someone else before Ashley pulled him away. A search of the premises later turned up a small amount of cannabis.
Ashley had been in bed with his girlfriend at the time of the raid, and had got out of bed to investigate noises coming from the flat. As he moved towards the door of his darkened bedroom an armed police officer stepped into the room. Seeing Ashley approaching and having been briefed that the occupants of the flat could be armed and dangerous, the officer reacted by firing his weapon at Ashley.
At a subsequent press conference, the Chief Constable
of Sussex Police
, Paul Whitehouse, claimed that James Ashley had been wanted for murder but this was not correct.
An enquiry was held into the incident and Sir John Hoddinott, the Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary
later found "suggestive evidence of collusion between some or all of the chief officers of the Sussex force to conceal what they already knew, and that an arguable case of attempting to pervert the course of justice might be made out."
Hoddinott also said that there was evidence of criminal malfeasance and falsehood, neglect of duty, discreditable conduct against the Deputy Chief Constable of Sussex, Mark Jordan, and aiding and abetting the false statements of his chief, Paul Whitehouse. Mr. Whitehouse insisted that he bore no responsibility for the events that had occurred but when the Home Secretary, David Blunkett suggested that he resign, he took that course of action.
Constable Sherwood and four other officers were all charged and found not guilty in James Ashley's death, they continued to serve as policemen. Five police officers who were suspended following the shooting later unsuccessfully attempted to sue the Sussex police for the "psychiatric injury" they suffered due to alleged improper training they received.
In March 2009 Sussex Police agreed to compensate and apologise to Ashley's family. The police admitted negligence - that there had been a series of police failures - but not unlawful killing. Ashley's son however maintained the killing was illegal.
The affair re-ignited public concern about the wisdom of arming British policemen and allowing them to attend at incidents involving firearms. Their American counterparts have a number of strategies and a variety of equipment to deal with gun incidents, the last of which involves actually opening fire.
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
while unarmed and naked, during a raid on his flat in St Leonards
St Leonards-on-Sea
St Leonards-on-Sea is part of Hastings, East Sussex, England, lying immediately to the west of the centre. The original part of the settlement was laid out in the early 19th century as a new town: a place of elegant houses designed for the well-off; it also included a central public garden, a...
, East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, on 15 January 1998. Ashley and several of the apartment's other residents were suspected of involvement in large-scale drug deals. Having previously served two years on a charge of manslaughter
Manslaughter in English law
In the English law of homicide, manslaughter is a less serious offence than murder, the differential being between levels of fault based on the mens rea . In England and Wales, the usual practice is to prefer a charge of murder, with the judge or defence able to introduce manslaughter as an option...
, Ashley had been involved in a pubroom stabbing several months earlier, although only in so much as a friend of his attacked someone else before Ashley pulled him away. A search of the premises later turned up a small amount of cannabis.
Ashley had been in bed with his girlfriend at the time of the raid, and had got out of bed to investigate noises coming from the flat. As he moved towards the door of his darkened bedroom an armed police officer stepped into the room. Seeing Ashley approaching and having been briefed that the occupants of the flat could be armed and dangerous, the officer reacted by firing his weapon at Ashley.
At a subsequent press conference, the Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of Sussex Police
Sussex Police
Sussex Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing East Sussex, West Sussex and City of Brighton and Hove in southern England. Its head office is in Lewes, Lewes District, East Sussex.-History:...
, Paul Whitehouse, claimed that James Ashley had been wanted for murder but this was not correct.
An enquiry was held into the incident and Sir John Hoddinott, the Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary
Hampshire Constabulary is the territorial police force responsible for policing Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in southern England.The force area includes the cities of Winchester, Southampton and Portsmouth...
later found "suggestive evidence of collusion between some or all of the chief officers of the Sussex force to conceal what they already knew, and that an arguable case of attempting to pervert the course of justice might be made out."
Hoddinott also said that there was evidence of criminal malfeasance and falsehood, neglect of duty, discreditable conduct against the Deputy Chief Constable of Sussex, Mark Jordan, and aiding and abetting the false statements of his chief, Paul Whitehouse. Mr. Whitehouse insisted that he bore no responsibility for the events that had occurred but when the Home Secretary, David Blunkett suggested that he resign, he took that course of action.
Constable Sherwood and four other officers were all charged and found not guilty in James Ashley's death, they continued to serve as policemen. Five police officers who were suspended following the shooting later unsuccessfully attempted to sue the Sussex police for the "psychiatric injury" they suffered due to alleged improper training they received.
In March 2009 Sussex Police agreed to compensate and apologise to Ashley's family. The police admitted negligence - that there had been a series of police failures - but not unlawful killing. Ashley's son however maintained the killing was illegal.
The affair re-ignited public concern about the wisdom of arming British policemen and allowing them to attend at incidents involving firearms. Their American counterparts have a number of strategies and a variety of equipment to deal with gun incidents, the last of which involves actually opening fire.