AN investigation has begun into the non-fatal shooting of a man by armed police in Bromsgrove on Sunday (November 4) morning.

On Saturday evening, police received separate reports from members of the public that a man had been seen in possession of a handgun at different locations in Bromsgrove.

At 1.44 am on Sunday a local police patrol identified a man in bushes acting suspiciously. As a result of these concerns, firearms officers were sent to the incident and encountered him in The Tryst, a residential street north of the town close to the A38. Moments later shots were fired by two armed officers, and the injured 53-year-old man was then taken to hospital by ambulance. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

After police notified the The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) they sent investigators to the scene of the shooting, and the police post incident procedure. The investigators gathered police body worn video which will be reviewed, and witness accounts have been provided by the officers involved. Investigators have also overseen police forensic examinations which have included recovery of a non-police issue weapon from the scene.

IOPC regional director Derrick Campbell said: “Fortunately police shootings are rare occurrences, but where potentially lethal force is used by officers it is appropriate that we carry out a thorough, independent investigation.”