The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has announced that it is to re-investigate the Humberside Police shooting of Lewis Skelton. Mr Skelton died after being shot twice in the back by an armed officer in November 2016.
In 2017, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) concluded there was no indication of any criminal offence or any behaviour requiring disciplinary procedures. However, in October 2021, an inquest jury concluded that Mr Skelton had been unlawfully killed.
The officer then sought to challenge that conclusion in the Divisional Court, unsuccessfully, and the IOPC was asked by the Skelton family to re-investigate the matter.
Despite concluding that there were flaws in the original IPCC investigation, in November 2022, the IOPC went on to determine that there was no compelling reason to re-investigate.
Earlier this year, Mr Skelton’s family successfully challenged that decision in the High Court.
Announcing the re-investigation today, the IOPC Regional Director indicated that the organisation would be reviewing its re-investigations policy “to ensure it more accurately reflects the original intent behind it”.
She expressed an appreciation that the decision would be “concerning for many of the armed officers who put their own safety at risk to protect the public”. She continued: “It benefits nobody to have key questions unanswered so long after Mr Skelton’s death.”
The IOPC stressed that any investigation now would be independent.
Read the full statement of Solicitor Neil Hudgell, who represents the family of Lewis Skelton
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