Guardian Newspaper Headline
19th November 2011
There has been much discussion over the Guardian Newspaper Headline regarding the Police shooting of Mark Duggan on the 4th August 2011. The PFOA continues to support all those firearms officers involved and their families.
Metropolitan Police:
The MPS has decided to report to the Press Complaints Commission its concerns about a headline in The Guardian newspaper which stated: "man whose shooting triggered riots was not armed".
The headline on an article about the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan, was inaccurate and misleading based on what is known at this time and despite making this point in the strongest terms to the newspaper, it was not amended.
The article, but particularly its headline, stated as fact issues that are subject to an ongoing investigation by the IPCC, who have themselves issued a statement expressing similar concerns.
We would reiterate that it is premature for anyone to draw conclusions prior to completion of the IPCC's investigation.
IPCC statement:
19 November 2011
The IPCC believes the headline on an article published in The Guardian in connection with the investigation into the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan is misleading, speculative and wholly irresponsible.
The IPCC expressed its concerns to The Guardian last night over the article’s headline and we had been given the impression that the headline would be amended but, disappointingly The Guardian appears to have chosen not to. We will be considering in due course whether it would be appropriate for a formal complaint to be made to the Press Complaints Commission about this matter.
The IPCC investigation into the death of Mark Duggan is examining a range of issues. This is a complex investigation that involves gathering information including witness statements, pathology, forensics and ballistics analysis and we have stated to the coroner that it will be completed within four to six months. One of the key elements we will seek to establish is the sequence of events concerning the non-police issue firearm found at the scene. That has not been established yet, contrary to what has been written in The Guardian article today. We would urge people not to rush to judgment until our investigation is complete and they have the opportunity to see and hear the full evidence themselves.