DEATH RAID POLICE CHIEF QUITS

A long-serving chief constable resigned today, a day after the home
secretary, David Blunkett, called on his employers to consider sacking him
following a police raid in which an unarmed man was shot dead.

Paul Whitehouse resigned as Sussex chief constable after criticism of his
decision to go ahead with promotions and pay rises for two of the officers
involved in the raid.

Mr Blunkett yesterday called on Sussex police authority to consider sacking
him.

He said that Sussex police had to learn lessons from the operation which
saw suspected drugs dealer James Ashley, 39, shot by police marksman Chris
Sherwood at his St Leonards flat.

Mr Whitehouse, who will leave the post on September 25, told BBC Radio 4's
On the Ropes programme that quitting the force was the "honourable" thing
to do.

But James Ashley's solicitor, Brian Jackson, said: "The family will be
delighted that somebody has at last taken responsibility for what was
clearly a bungled raid."

Mr Whitehouse said: "Last night, the home secretary issued that press
statement and I had two choices.

"I could have dug my heels in and fought for what I believed to be right,
because in my view he has been grievously misled and has reacted in a way
that bodes ill for the police services of the UK.

"On the other hand, I could do the honourable thing, with the benefit of
Sussex police, which I think is a very fine force, and say, 'I'll go now. I
can collect my pension'."

Mr Whitehouse, who insisted he had retired rather than resigned, added: "I
have done nothing wrong. I have behaved to the highest standards of
integrity that I expect all my officers to have."

He said he had been of pensionable age since 1997 and had only stayed on
because his officers were facing criminal charges and his deputy had been
suspended for more than two years. "I decided I could only do my duty by
standing by them," he said.

Mr Blunkett confirmed yesterday that Mr Ashley's family had been invited to
meet Home Office minister John Denham to express their concerns and calls
for a public inquiry into the affair.

Mr Jackson said he was "astonished" when officers involved in the affair
were promoted. The family's civil case against Sussex police would
continue, he said, adding: "I find it very difficult to believe that they
will defend the civil proceedings."

"Throughout this, everybody in senior ranks in Sussex police has tried to
pretend that nothing went wrong. At every turn they have thwarted
reasonable attempts by the family to get proper answers," he said.

PC Sherwood, 34, was cleared of manslaughter. The prosecution of three
other officers, Superintendent Christopher Burton, 44, Inspector Kevin
French, 48, and Inspector Christopher Siggs, 42, was halted at
Wolverhampton crown court after the prosecution offered no evidence.

A fourth officer, PC Robert Shoesmith, 39, was cleared of misconduct when
the prosecution also offered no evidence at the Old Bailey earlier this year.

Mr Ashley was shot at close range during the armed raid in January 1998. He
was naked in bed with his girlfriend when officers burst in. They had been
told Ashley was dangerous and could be armed, but no guns were found at the
address near Hastings, East Sussex.

Kent police and Hampshire police were called in to investigate the
shooting. Since the collapse of their trial, Mr French and Mr Siggs were
promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector, prompting more anger from Mr
Ashley's family.