Greater Manchester Police chief constable Sir Peter Fahy has pleaded not guilty to a health and safety charge in connection with the death of an unarmed man in 2012.
Sir Peter is accused of failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 over the shooting of Anthony Grainger, who was gunned down by a GMP officer in March 2012.
Fahy chose not to appear in the dock at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The plea was instead made by Anne Whyte QC, a representative of GMP.
Fahy was charged as the “corporation sole” for the force, a legal status that means he is a representative of GMP but does not share criminal liability.
The case is now due to be heard at Southwark Crown Court on 20 February.
Prosecutor Karen Robinson noted that an unlimited fine could be imposed if there was a conviction and it was found that the actions led to a death.
The maximum fine for a summary conviction at a magistrates’ court would be £20,000.
District Judge Howard Riddle sent the case to Southwark Crown Court for a preliminary hearing on February 20.
Father-of-two Mr Grainger, 36, from Bolton was shot by a GMP marksman after his car was stopped during a planned police operation in Culcheth, Cheshire.
No weapons were recovered on the victim or in the car.
The Crown Prosecution Service decided the shooter will not face charges for murder or manslaughter because a jury would be likely to accept that he believed his actions were necessary.
