OPERATION BRIDGE - Cumbria Constabulary

GPMS RESTRICTED
• Police Officers were travelling directly behind the suspect and had
witnessed the latest incident.
8.68 After shooting Terry KENNEDY and Emma PERCIVAL, Derrick BIRD
started to turn his vehicle around as if he was intending to drive back
into Whitehaven town centre. This manoeuvre was not possible, as
his way back was blocked by Terry’s taxi, Paul GOODWIN’S car and
the police van.
8.69 With his driver’s window open and now facing the police vehicle,
Derrick BIRD raised the shotgun and pointed it directly at the police
vehicle where the two unarmed officers took cover behind the
dashboard and bodywork of the vehicle. When they looked up a
short time later, he was driving away from them at speed.
8.70 They attempted to follow, but the head start and the fact that their van
had limited acceleration compared to Derrick BIRD’S car meant that
they were unable to see which route he had taken when they arrived
at the five way junction at Ginns.
8.71 Following the incident there was speculation regarding whether these
unarmed officers could have done more to stop Derrick BIRD at this
point. The review team has examined this aspect in some detail.
8.72 These officers had just witnessed Derrick BIRD shooting two
members of the public with no regard for the fact that the police were
directly behind him. It was reasonable to assume that he would not
hesitate to shoot them either. It was also entirely reasonable for the
officers to take cover as Derrick BIRD discharged the firearm from
close quarters.
8.73 The police vehicle was a large van with limited acceleration and its
proximity to Derrick BIRD’S vehicle would have limited the likelihood
of a successful ramming to immobilise his car. Such action would
also have placed the lives of the officers involved and those at the
immediate scene at risk. As Derrick BIRD was in the vehicle it was
also, most unlikely that this sort of action would have incapacitated
him.
8.74 Unknown to the police, Derrick BIRD had taken the Ginns to Kells
Road and drove in the general direction of Sandwith and Rottington
to St Bees, using minor roads.
8.75 The FIM then spoke to the ARVs and advised them not to attend any
rendezvous point but to actively search for Derrick BIRD and
repeated the tactical command to “confront” him. It is clear that the
FIM wanted the officers to search for and stop Derrick BIRD from
continuing his offending.
THIS REPORT IS EMBARGOED
UNTIL 4PM MONDAY 28 TH MARCH 2011
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