Inquest finds firearms officer lawfully killed man in Swindon street

An jury at an inquest into the death of Graham Trinder has concluded that he was lawfully killed.

Mr Trinder died after being shot by a firearms officer in Summers Street, Swindon on Sunday 8 November 2020.

He had been holding an air rifle following a row with a neighbour.

Wiltshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Deb Smith said: “First and foremost, our sincerest condolences remain with Mr Trinder’s family and friends. Whilst incidents of this nature are thankfully incredibly rare in Wiltshire, this does not diminish the impact they have on all involved and the wider communities in which they take place.

“Following this incident, the Independent Office for Police Conduct carried out a thorough and independent investigation. This is something that the public rightly expect and deserve. We provided our full support to the IOPC investigation. Having reviewed footage of the incident and statements from those involved, the IOPC determined that the use of force was reasonable in the circumstances. 

“This determination has been reinforced through the verdict of the jury in this inquest.

“Ultimately, no firearms officer ever wants to discharge their weapon – all officers swear an oath to protect the public. Our firearms officers are highly trained to make split-second decisions in extremely pressurised circumstances.

"We have provided ongoing support to the officers involved in this case and will continue to support them following today’s decision.

“During the Inquest, the Coroner made the direction to issue part of the Body Worn Video covering the incident to the media. We welcome the public transparency this allows. However, our thoughts and condolences remain with Mr Trinder's family and friends. 

“We fully appreciate the impact that the inquest process might have on our local communities. It will, undoubtedly, bring back some difficult memories for those who were living in the area closest to the incident in 2020.

“Our collective focus, therefore, remains on supporting these communities and I would urge the local community to reach out to their Neighbourhood Policing Team at this time.”