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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Double murder police criticised | Double murder police criticised |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| An investigation into the murder of a couple by a criminal gang has criticised the police's offer of protection to them. | An investigation into the murder of a couple by a criminal gang has criticised the police's offer of protection to them. |
| Joan and John Stirland were shot dead at their bungalow in Trusthorpe, Lincolnshire, in August 2004. | Joan and John Stirland were shot dead at their bungalow in Trusthorpe, Lincolnshire, in August 2004. |
| The Independent Police Complaints Commission said the Nottinghamshire force's sharing of intelligence with Lincolnshire Police was "unacceptable". | The Independent Police Complaints Commission said the Nottinghamshire force's sharing of intelligence with Lincolnshire Police was "unacceptable". |
| The couple had fled Nottingham after gunmen targeted their home. | The couple had fled Nottingham after gunmen targeted their home. |
| The IPCC said Nottinghamshire Police's investigation into that attack fell below acceptable standards. | The IPCC said Nottinghamshire Police's investigation into that attack fell below acceptable standards. |
| 'Below standard' | 'Below standard' |
| Mr Stirland, 55, and his 51-year-old wife moved to their seaside home at Trusthorpe, where they were killed eight months later. | Mr Stirland, 55, and his 51-year-old wife moved to their seaside home at Trusthorpe, where they were killed eight months later. |
| They were murdered in revenge for a murder carried out by Mrs Stirland's son Michael O'Brien in Nottingham in 2003. | They were murdered in revenge for a murder carried out by Mrs Stirland's son Michael O'Brien in Nottingham in 2003. |
| The killings were ordered by gangland boss Colin Gunn, who is serving 35 years in prison for conspiracy to murder. | The killings were ordered by gangland boss Colin Gunn, who is serving 35 years in prison for conspiracy to murder. |
| Colin Gunn is serving 35 years for conspiracy to murder | Colin Gunn is serving 35 years for conspiracy to murder |
| Michael McNee and John Russell, were also jailed for conspiracy to murder the Stirlands. | Michael McNee and John Russell, were also jailed for conspiracy to murder the Stirlands. |
| The IPCC found officers with little experience of protecting people were initially given the responsibility for the couple's safety. | The IPCC found officers with little experience of protecting people were initially given the responsibility for the couple's safety. |
| Nottinghamshire officers offered protection to the pair on condition that Mrs Stirland gave evidence against her son. | Nottinghamshire officers offered protection to the pair on condition that Mrs Stirland gave evidence against her son. |
| The couple declined to join a witness protection programme. | The couple declined to join a witness protection programme. |
| The IPCC said in five separate areas the Nottinghamshire force was found to have "organisationally failed", including the "management of major crime". | The IPCC said in five separate areas the Nottinghamshire force was found to have "organisationally failed", including the "management of major crime". |
| Lincolnshire Police were given only the barest of details about who the Stirlands were and communication between the two forces was not as good as it could have been. | Lincolnshire Police were given only the barest of details about who the Stirlands were and communication between the two forces was not as good as it could have been. |
| Officers investigated | Officers investigated |
| On the day of the murders Mrs Stirland called the police because a neighbour had seen a prowler. | On the day of the murders Mrs Stirland called the police because a neighbour had seen a prowler. |
| It was almost three hours before an officer rang her back. The couple were shot shortly afterwards. | It was almost three hours before an officer rang her back. The couple were shot shortly afterwards. |
| It was another seven hours before a Lincolnshire officer turned up at the couple's bungalow. | It was another seven hours before a Lincolnshire officer turned up at the couple's bungalow. |
| He had been told by other officers the callout was "nothing urgent". | He had been told by other officers the callout was "nothing urgent". |
| The IPCC said it was impossible to say whether the killings could have been prevented if officers had acted differently. | The IPCC said it was impossible to say whether the killings could have been prevented if officers had acted differently. |
| The Commission investigated 13 Nottinghamshire officers. Three have subsequently retired. | The Commission investigated 13 Nottinghamshire officers. Three have subsequently retired. |
| It found the conduct of five serving officers fell below the professional standard expected of them. | It found the conduct of five serving officers fell below the professional standard expected of them. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it would not charge any officers over the deaths. | The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it would not charge any officers over the deaths. |
| Details of the IPCC investigation will be shown on Inside Out in the East Midlands on Friday at 1930 GMT. | |
| The programme includes the first broadcast of tapes of a corrupt constable tipping off Colin Gunn's gang about police investigations. | The programme includes the first broadcast of tapes of a corrupt constable tipping off Colin Gunn's gang about police investigations. |