Manchester Arena Inquiry Day 66 February 23, 2021 Opus 2
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Manchester Arena Inquiry Day 66 February 23, 2021 Opus 2 - Official Court Reporters Phone: +44 (0)20 3008 5900 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.opus2.com February 23, 2021 Manchester Arena Inquiry Day 66 1 Tuesday, 23 February 2021 1 the coming into effect of that plan in July 2012? 2 (10.15 am) 2 A. I was, yes. 3 MR GREANEY: Sir, good morning. I’m sorry we are starting 3 Q. Still dealing with matters of background, in 2012 when 4 a few minutes later than even the delayed start today; 4 you joined the unit, how many inspectors were there 5 there was a good reason for that. The gentleman in the 5 in the firearms unit? 6 witness box is someone that we heard a good deal about 6 A. There were eight in total , sir . 7 yesterday, it ’s Inspector Simon Lear, and I will ask 7 Q. Sir, for your information, I ’m in the first statement of 8 that he be sworn by Andrew, please. 8 Inspector Lear at paragraph 2. 9 INSPECTOR SIMON LEAR (sworn) 9 So there were eight inspectors? 10 Questions from MR GREANEY 10 A. Yes. 11 MR GREANEY: Would you begin, please, by telling us what 11 Q. Over time, was there any impact upon the number of 12 your full name is? 12 inspectors within the unit? 13 A. Simon Andrew Lear. 13 A. Over the next couple of years, sir , it went down from 14 Q. Are you an inspector with Greater Manchester Police? 14 eight to five and then finished at three. 15 A. I am, sir . 15 Q. What about other members of policing staff, so sergeants 16 Q. Have you served for a period now in excess of 20 years? 16 and constables? Was there any −− 17 A. I have, sir . 17 A. No, that was constant, sir . 18 Q. In fact , about 22 years? 18 Q. But nonetheless, the number of inspectors reduced from 19 A. That’s right. 19 eight at the beginning in 2012 over a couple of years to 20 Q. Did you move to the tactical firearms unit of GMP in 20 three? 21 2003? 21 A. That’s right, yes. 22 A. I did. 22 Q. Which is, as Mr Whittle agreed yesterday, a substantial 23 Q. And serve there in the rank of constable until 2005? 23 reduction. What would you describe the consequences of 24 A. That’s correct. 24 such a substantial reduction in manpower at inspector 25 Q. And then, later, in February 2012, having been promoted 25 level as having been? 1 3 1 by that stage to the rank of inspector, did you return 1 A. Please bear with me. I then moved from operations to 2 to the firearms unit? 2 the policy unit, I think it was 2013/14. 3 A. I did. 3 Q. Can I ask you to pause for one moment? You’re very 4 Q. At that stage did you have responsibility for a firearms 4 softly spoken. 5 team? 5 (Pause) 6 A. I did. 6 A. Basically , after being on the unit for approximately 7 Q. So would it be right to describe your role at that 7 2 years, then I was redeployed from the operational 8 stage, February 2012, as being an operational role? 8 teams to the Policy Compliance Unit −− 9 A. That’s correct, yes. 9 Q. I’m going to ask you about that in a moment, but I don’t 10 Q. At that stage, so still early 2012, and into the 10 wish to interrupt your answer. 11 mid−part of 2012, did you have any responsibility for 11 A. If I can put it in some sort of context, when the policy 12 the development of firearms policy? 12 unit was first created, there was a chief inspector in 13 A. No, sir , not at that time. 13 charge, there was an inspector, there was a sergeant, 14 Q. Or Operation Plato policy? 14 and there were three or four staff . When I inherited it 15 A. No, sir . 15 a few years later , I had a sergeant who shortly after −− 16 Q. As the inquiry knows, the first iteration of what we now 16 I was there about a year and then he went temporary to 17 know to be SOP 47, so v1, and I know that you’ll be 17 leave me on my own. Shortly again after being in the 18 familiar with that. 18 policy unit, approximately a year after that, I then 19 A. That’s right, yes. 19 inherited the whole of the firearms training school as 20 Q. The inquiry knows that the first iteration of that plan 20 well , which up until that point had had a full 21 or policy is dated 25 July 2012. Did you have any 21 inspector, that being Dave Whittle who was here 22 involvement in the development of that plan? 22 yesterday. 23 A. No, sir . 23 My roles, my, shall we say, portfolio was so vast, 24 Q. But in the early stages of your involvement, having 24 it had a detrimental impact, I was basically under so 25 returned to the firearms unit in 2012, were you aware of 25 much pressure and strain to work so far that near the 2 4 Opus 2 [email protected] Official Court Reporters +44 (0)20 3008 5900 February 23, 2021 Manchester Arena Inquiry Day 66 1 end of 2017 it affected my health insofar as I hadto 1 firearms situations . Would that include what became 2 put a transfer request in for (inaudible : distorted) −− 2 known from 2012 as Operation Plato type situations? 3 making me ill, basically . 3 A. That’s correct, sir , that was one of them. 4 Q. I don’t think it is necessary to ask you where you went 4 Q. Did the responsibilities of the PCU also involve 5 to at the end of 2017, but you moved away from firearms 5 conducting compliance checks? 6 policing altogether, did you not? 6 A. It did, yes. 7 A. Completely moved away from the firearms role, yes. 7 Q. So in other words, checking that the policies were being 8 Q. So, as you’ ll appreciate, you’ve said more there than 8 followed? 9 you said in your witness statements, and there’s no 9 A. Yes. 10 criticism , I ’m quite sure that you’ve come here 10 Q. And also acting as secretary at force level meetings? 11 determined to give your evidence very candidly. But 11 A. That’s correct, yes. 12 you’ ll appreciate I want to ask you some more about 12 Q. What did that involve? 13 that, although I won’t ask you more about your health. 13 A. So it would be like taking minutes of meetings. 14 You mentioned the PCU. Before we delve into the 14 Q. You told me earlier that when you were in charge of 15 answer you just gave, let ’s just be clear about a few 15 a firearms team, your role was operational? 16 things. You, I think, became responsible for the PCU, 16 A. That’s right. 17 namely the Policy and Compliance Unit, in 2014? 17 Q. So obviously you would be dealing with firearms 18 A. Yes, I think so, sir , yes. 18 operations? 19 Q. And then to add to your responsibilities , in 2015, 19 A. Yes, sir . 20 I think you told us, you became responsible for the 20 Q. But now, from 2014, you were the head of PCU, was your 21 firearms training school? 21 role operational at that stage? 22 A. As well, sir , yes. 22 A. No, sir . I was still an authorised firearms officer , 23 Q. And whereas the staff members in the PCU, as you told 23 which I needed to do to conduct my training 24 us, went from chief inspector down to constable at one 24 responsibilities , but actually going out on the street 25 stage, once you became responsible for the PCU, which is 25 any more, I didn’t do that. 5 7 1 the period that we are concerned with, from 2014, part 1 Q. So there was a division between operational firearms 2 of the period we’re concerned with, it was you and it 2 officers −− 3 was Sergeant Whittle? 3 A. Yes. 4 A. That’s correct, yes. 4 Q. −− and, I don’t know how you would describe it, but 5 Q. So in short, there were many fewer officers within that 5 firearms officers who were concerned with the governance 6 department from that point in time? 6 of firearms and firearms operations? Would that be 7 A. Significantly less . 7 a fair way of describing it ? 8 Q. And I think what you’re saying to us is that ultimately 8 A. That’s right. There was an intentional gap so we could 9 that was to place you under a degree of pressure that 9 act independently and complete the compliance checks. 10 was intolerable? 10 Q. We’re going to just jump ahead from where I was 11 A. Yes, sir . 11 expecting to be at this moment in time, but it’s 12 Q. We just need to understand what the PCU was, the Policy 12 a consequence of the very candid answer that you’ve 13 and Compliance Unit.