Inspector unaware of gun threat

A senior inspector may still have sent unarmed officers to face gunman Peter Medlicott - even if he had been made aware he had access to firearms as there was no suggestion he had a gun at the time, an inquest heard.

Inspector Clive Eastwood, force duty inspector, said he did not want to blame call taker Derek Deakin but said he should have put on the log when he spoke to Ethel Mildred Jones at 6.09am that Peter Medlicott had access to firearms and had threatened her in the past.

If Mr Eastwood had that information, he said he would have taken control of the situation straight away to assess if armed response vehicles were needed.

But he did not find out about the incident until 6.40am when Constable Kieron Cornell and Constable Sharon Phillips were already being held at gunpoint in New Park Road, Castlefields, Shrewsbury.

Mr Eastwood spoke to Constable Richard Gray, who was killed in the incident, and his partner Constable Matthew Cross and ordered them to attend the scene straight away because lives were at risk.

Mr Eastwood was asked if he would have handled the situation differently if Mr Deakin had put the information on the log.

He said he still thought it likely unarmed officers would have been deployed to the scene but told to exercise caution.

The hearing continues.