A police officer who was shot at with live rounds during a botched weapons training exercise is suing the City of London Police force for £250,000.
Sergeant Robert Haughey claims he was left with post-traumatic stress disorder after being forced to dodge bullets that missed him by inches during drills at the Connaught army barracks in Dover in 2015.
The 47-year-old from Strood in Kent said he realised the shooter was using live rounds instead of blanks when one of the bullets shattered a window above his head and he was forced to take cover.
He said the incident left him with post-traumatic stress disorder and unable to return to work, The Sun reports.
A court writ filed against City of London Police by Mr Haughey’s lawyer claims the police sergeant felt “panic and terror” during the incident and “suffered psychiatric injuries as a result”.
City of London Police admits liability over the incident, but a settlement is yet to be reached with Mr Haughey.
A City of London Police spokesman told The Sun: “While participating in a firearms training exercise on 19 March 2015 at Connaught Barracks, Dover, Kent, a City of London Police officer discharged live rounds from a firearm that was supposed to be using imitation rounds. No one was struck by those discharged live rounds.”
The spokesperson said that a review by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) ruled no further action should be taken but that some officers received further training.
“There is an ongoing civil claim and as a result we will not be commenting on the specifics of the incident or individuals involved,” the spokesperson added.
Article by Jo Davy of City Matters
