Disciplinary charges against three Sussex police officers over a fatal shooting were slammed today as a "bucket load of nonsense".

Graham Alexander, of the Sussex branch of the Police Federation, said it was "madness" because all three officers had already been cleared by a court of any wrong-doing.

Superintendent Chris Burton, 44, and chief inspectors Kevin French, 48, and Christopher Siggs, 42, will face a total of 15 charges concerning their role in a raid that ended with the shooting of unarmed James Ashley, 39, at his home in Hastings in 1998.

Yesterday's announcement came from the Police Complaints Authority.

Mr Alexander said the handling of the Ashley affair was now "out of control".

"Seven months ago these officers were acquitted at Wolverhampton Crown Court of any misconduct. Their honesty and integrity is in tact.

"For them to face disciplinary charges now is sheer madness and they are being treated appallingly.

"They will be robustly defending themselves and we are in touch with their legal representatives.

"It is a shambles and a bucket load of nonsense."

Mr Alexander was also unhappy with the enforced retirement of Deputy Chief Constable Mark Jordan, the man who authorised the issuing of firearms for the Ashley raid.

Mr Jordan, who leaves next month on medical grounds and on a full pension, was accused of issuing guns without sufficient intelligence information, a charge he flaty denies.

He has been suspended since February, 1999, and was facing a disciplinary tribunal but proceedings have now been dropped.

Mr Alexander said the deputy had now lost his chance to give his side of the story, adding: "I firmly believe the deputy would have preferred to have fought his corner.

"If it was proven he had done wrong then he needed to have been sanctioned but he is left in the worst possible position of not being able to do or say anything in his defence."

Ashley's sister Pauline, meanwhile, has written to Home Secretary David Blunkett expressing anger over Mr Jordan's retirement.

She wanted him to face the disciplinary hearing, adding: "The pain and distress caused to this family really is too much to bear."