THE DEPUTY Chief Constable of Sussex has been suspended over the fatal shooting of an unarmed man last year.

Mark Jordan was suspended last night by the Sussex Police Authority after it considered a report by the Kent Constabulary into the shooting of James Ashley last January.

Mr Ashley was shot dead during a raid on his Hastings flat by 30 police officers. He was in bed naked with his girlfriend Caroline Courtland Smith.

The report by Kent's Assistant Chief Constable Barbara Wilding, who was called in to investigate the shooting, also examined complaints made by Mr Ashley's family against senior officers.

The family claimed Sussex Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse misled the public over the shooting.

Later, it was announced that Mr Whitehouse and three senior colleagues, including Mr Jordan, would also be investigated in the Wilding report and in another independent report led by Hampshire police.

The Hampshire report will be considered by the authority on March 8.

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Today Ken Bodfish, chairman of the Sussex Police Authority, said: "The Sussex Police Authority cannot make any final decision about disciplinary proceedings until an announcement is made on whether any criminal charges are to be brought arising from the shooting."

Mr Whitehouse said last night: "We deeply regret the shooting of James Ashley.

"This is a difficult time for Sussex Police and for all the individuals concerned."

Mr Ashley, a cocaine dealer originally from Merseyside, was naked in bed when he was shot once in the chest at 4am in January last year.

Five officers, including the man from Sussex's Special Operations Unit who pulled the trigger, were suspended.

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