A former chief inspector at Greater Manchester Police, Dale Sexton, who led the initial response to the Manchester Arena bombing, may face criminal charges over statements he made during reviews of the terror attack, according to the police watchdog.
Sexton, who retired after the attack, denied feeling “overwhelmed” by the aftermath of the bombing during his testimony at the Manchester Arena Inquiry in May 2021. He also admitted to not informing other emergency service responders about his declaration of Operation Plato, a planned response to a marauding armed terrorist, as he believed it could hinder the progress of fire and ambulance crews.
However, his failure to disclose his deviation from protocol and keeping the declaration secret from partner services in his 2018 interview for the Kerslake Report, an independent review of the emergency response commissioned by Mayor Andy Burnham, raised concerns during the inquiry.
When questioned about the omission, Sexton explained that he felt he had “almost got away with it on the night.”
Following a Victims’ Right to Review (VRR) requested by the families of the victims, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has upheld the review and found that an offence may have been committed. A second decision maker, independent of the original investigation, reviewed the evidence and reached a similar conclusion.
The IOPC will now refer a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) regarding the accounts given by the former chief inspector on the night of the attack.
Previously, Sexton was cleared of breaching professional behaviour standards or committing a criminal offence in a separate investigation that concluded in February.
The CPS has confirmed that they have not yet received the file from the IOPC regarding the evidence.
Amanda Rowe, Director of Operations at the IOPC, stated that the Manchester Arena bombing was a tragedy with a lasting impact. She acknowledged the importance of reviewing cases independently and ensuring victims and complainants have their cases reviewed by someone unconnected to the original investigation. The matter will be examined by the CPS to determine whether criminal charges should be authorized.
The bombing at the Manchester Arena in May 2017 claimed the lives of 22 people when a suicide bomber detonated a device at the venue. The attack had a profound impact on the community and remains a painful memory for all those affected.
