The fatal shooting of James Ashley sent shock waves through Sussex Police on a level never before experienced by the force.

Immediately afterwards, police chief Paul Whitehouse described the operation as "properly and professionally planned".

But it soon emerged that Ashley was not armed and no guns were found in the flat. He was suspected of drug dealing but only a small amount of cannabis was discovered.

It was what Mr Whitehouse said immediately after the shooting that became paramount to two in-depth investigations into the death and what eventually led to Mr Whitehouse's suspension.

He said: "I very much regret that we have shot a man and regret even more that he has died.

"However, in the light of all the information available to me at this time, I am satisfied that the operation was properly and professionally planned, that the use of firearms was justified, and that my officers acted properly and with due regard to everybody's safety."

Within months his words had fallen into question as five officers involved in the operation were suspended.

Then in February 1999, Deputy Chief Constable Mark Jordan was suspended over claims he wrongly released guns to officers in the hours before the shooting.

His suspension followed a report by Barbara Wilding, Assistant Chief Constable of Kent at the time.

In May, an inquest into Ashley's death heard allegations that senior Sussex officers misrepresented intelligence before the raid.

Then, in December, it was leaked that the same senior officers had been heavily criticised in a report by the Chief Constable of Hampshire, Sir John Hoddinott, who was called in to investigate the conduct of Sussex's chief officers in a second, separate probe.

Four officers were charged with misfeasance, defined as misconduct in public office. They were Supt Chris Burton, 44, Acting Chief Insp Kevin French, 48, Det Insp Christopher Siggs, 42, and PC Robert Shoesmith, 39.

Mr Jordan, who denies the allegation against him, remains suspended pending the outcome of an independent tribunal.

On March 8 1999 Sussex felt the real impact of the Ashley affair.

On a vote that split Sussex Police Authority, Mr Whitehouse was suspended from duty.

The action focused on what he had said after the incident, when he publicly said they had acted properly when in fact the operation was initiated on flawed information.

The authority voted 9-8 in favour of suspending Mr Whitehouse.

But he successfully cleared his name with the police authority, which reinstated him on March 31 with strong written advice.