October 3, 2008: IPCC On Double Fatal Shooting

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has concluded its independent investigation into the fatal shooting of two men in Chandlers Ford, Hampshire.

Mark Nunes and Andrew Markland were shot by Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officers on 13 September 2007, following a longstanding investigation into cash in transit robberies in London and the Home Counties. Just after 10am on 13 September, the two men were involved in an attempted robbery on a security van that was parked outside the HSBC bank in The Precinct, Chandlers Ford. Mark Nunes was armed with a handgun.

As the robbery was taking place, one officer shot Mark Nunes once and a second officer shot Andrew Markland twice. Although officers then attempted to give first aid, Andrew Markland was pronounced dead at the scene and Mark Nunes was taken to Southampton General Hospital but was pronounced dead later that morning.

The IPCC was informed immediately and launched an independent investigation.

The investigation was extensive, using scenes of crime officers, forensic experts, a firearms ballistic expert and an independent firearms advisor. Video evidence was obtained and house to house inquiries were made to identify all possible witnesses. Investigators obtained 268 witness statements, 332 exhibits and 423 other documents.

Commissioner Deborah Glass said:

"Our investigation looked into the actions of the officers firing the shots at Mark Nunes and Andrew Markland as well as the planning, decision making and implementation of the police operation. From our investigation, although there are issues around the implementation of the operation that will be explored further at the inquest, there is no evidence to indicate that officers may have committed any criminal or misconduct offences."

"This has been an extensive inquiry and we will pass our report to the Coroner. We will publish our full findings after the conclusion of the inquest taking into account any further evidence given there."