Man shot by police was 'unarmed'

Police officers at the scene of the shooting in Glasgow

An investigation has begun after police in Glasgow shot a man who is reported to have been carrying an umbrella wrapped up in a jacket.

John Gemmill, 31, from Carntyne, is in a stable condition in hospital after an officer opened fire on him following a chase which started in the east end.

BBC Scotland correspondent Bob Wylie said the man had allegedly been brandishing an umbrella like a shotgun.

A senior Grampian Police officer has been asked to head the inquiry.

The series of events started in Bridgeton when Mr Gemmill allegedly accosted two police officers in a patrol car. They believed he was carrying a weapon.

When it is considered necessary to open fire on a subject, police officers need to shoot to stop an immediate threat to life Manual on police use of firearms

Armed officers and the Strathclyde Police helicopter were called in to assist other officers in the pursuit.

Mr Gemmill ran into Glasgow Green and crossed a footbridge over the River Clyde.

He was eventually shot in Queen Elizabeth Gardens, in an area known as the New Gorbals.

Some accounts suggest that Mr Gemmill went down on one knee at the time as though about to shoot the officers who were following him.

Firearms rules

A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said: "A number of police resources, including an armed response unit were deployed, and we can confirm that around 8.20pm a man was shot by officers near to the Waddell Court area."

No-one else was injured in the incident.

At about 0100 GMT, about 30 officers were involved in a yard-by-yard search in the vicinity of the shooting.

Announcing details of the inquiry, Strathclyde Deputy Chief Constable Ricky Gray said: "Assistant Chief Constable Pat Shearer of Grampian has been appointed to oversee this investigation which will be carried out in accordance with the ACPO manual of guidance regarding firearms.

"The 31-year-old man injured in the incident is receiving treatment in Glasgow's Victoria Infirmary. His condition is described as stable."

The area was cordoned off as an investigation began

The ACPO manual sets out the procedures and rules governing the deployment and use of firearms by police forces.

It states that weapons should be fired "only when absolutely necessary after conventional methods have been tried and failed or must, from the nature of the circumstances, be unlikely to succeed if tried".

The ultimate responsibility for firing a weapon rests with the individual officer, who is answerable to the law in the courts.

The manual says armed officers must identify themselves and give "a clear warning of their intent to use firearms".

"When it is considered necessary to open fire on a subject, police officers need to shoot to stop an immediate threat to life," it goes on.

"Research has indicated that only shots hitting the central nervous system (which is largely located in the central body mass) are likely to be effective in achieving rapid incapacitation.

"Shots which strike other parts of the body cannot be depended upon to achieve this."

Woman shooting

Ian Gordon, deputy chief constable of the Tayside force and the Association of Chief Police Officers Scotland's spokesman on police firearms, said the number of such incidents was small.

"In the last six years to my knowledge, this is only the second time a firearm has been discharged," he said.

A woman was hit in the stomach in August 2003 after brandishing a pistol at Lothian and Borders Police officers while she was staying at a remote cottage.

No action was taken against the officer who shot her.