Body search officers disciplined

Two Greater Manchester police officers have been disciplined for failing to spot a missing man's dead body during a search of a property in Tameside.

They had been looking for 46-year-old Peter Hanrahan, of Cow Hill Lane, who was reported missing in December 2007.

Poor lighting in a cellar area of the property in Ashton-under-Lyne was blamed for the officers not finding Mr Hanrahan's body in an initial search.

There were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Hanrahan's death.

'Poor lighting'

Ch Insp Wayne Miller, from Greater Manchester Police, said: "Greater Manchester Police were first informed that Peter Hanrahan was missing on 1 December 2007, but the last time he was seen on either 10 or 11 November 2007.

"The communal cellar where Peter was eventually found was searched by two officers, but this search was hampered by poor lighting.

"On 7 December 2007, when inquiries to trace Peter had not turned up anything significant, the investigation was reviewed and a further search of the cellar was carried out using powerful lighting.

"As a result of this search, Peter's body was found in the corner of a small room off the main cellar area."

He added that Mr Hanrahan's body should have been found during the original search and apologised to his family for any distress that had been caused.

The officers received "formal advice" from their superiors.