A police officer has been accused of negligence after accidentally firing a gun during a training exercise in Fife.
An independent investigation by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) found the officer failed to follow procedures on the use of firearms when he unintentionally discharged the Remington 870 shotgun.
No one was injured in the incident at Police Scotland’s firearms range in Glenrothes on May 28, but a wall was damaged.
The commissioner found the shotgun would not have been discharged if national guidelines had been followed.
Police Scotland, who carried out their own review, have accepted the findings.
In the investigation report published yesterday, commissioner Kate Frame said the most likely cause of the incident was that the officer’s thumb entered the trigger area while he was attempting to apply the safety catch.
According to guidance, the officer should have applied the catch on the firearm before moving from standing to lying in a chest down position. The commissioner also found that firearms instructors were initially unaware the officer had accidentally discharged the weapon because they were temporarily distracted while giving instructions to another officer.
Ms Frame commented: “The accidental firing of this weapon was negligent and the incident would not have happened if the officer concerned had followed National Police Firearms Training Guidance.
“Since the event, Police Scotland has taken steps to ensure that all firearms instructors are reminded of their core safety responsibilities.”
In response, Chief Superintendent Elaine Ferguson said: “Police Scotland firearms practice and procedures in respect of firearms safety are stringent.
“If accepted practice and procedures had been rigorously adhered to then this incident would not have occurred.
“Training officers have been reminded of the importance of their safety responsibilities following an internal review which aligned with the findings of the PIRC.”
According to the police watchdog, the unintentional discharge of a firearm falls into three categories: involuntary, accidental or negligent.
A negligent discharge of a firearm is caused by an act which it is decided could and should have been foreseen and prevented.
This act would be accompanied by a degree of negligence or recklessness.