Greater Manchester’s police commissioner has called for a report into the fatal shooting of an unarmed dad-of-two by a police marksman to be published.

As reported in the M.E.N the Independent Police Complaints Commission report into the killing of Anthony Grainger, from Salford , is ‘highly critical’ of GMP.

It is believed to raise concerns about ‘flawed’ intelligence gathering and criticises the management of firearms teams involved in the operation which led to the shooting.

It indicates the firearms officer who pulled the trigger may have a case to answer regarding a possible charge of manslaughter.

Now Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd has written to the Cheshire Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg and the IPCC calling for the report to be issued.

Mr Grainger, 36, died from a single shot fired from a sub-machine gun during an operation in Culcheth, Warrington in March 2012. He was sitting in the front seat of an Audi, outside a supermarket at the time.

Other men were sat in the car at the time. No weapons were found inside the vehicle.

Three men who were charged with plotting a robbery with Mr Grainger were cleared of all charges after a trial.

The Crown Prosecution Service was due to announce its decision on whether to bring criminal charges against the officer this month but it has been delayed for at least four weeks.

Solicitor Jonathan Bridge, of Manchester solicitors Farleys, acting for Mr Grainger’s family, has strongly criticised the IPCC. He said they had first promised the family they would see the report in October 2012. But 18 months after the shooting they had still not received it.

He told the M.E.N both the IPCC and GMP ‘should now come under the most severe possible scrutiny as to how they have dealt with the preparation of the report and its dissemination’.

On Mr Lloyd’s behalf, his deputy Jim Battle said: “The length of time that Anthony Grainger’s family and the wider public have had to wait for this report from the Independent Police Complaints Commission is unacceptable.

“These delays have not only added to the family’s grief, but could affect confidence in policing in Greater Manchester.

“The leaking of selective information from the report has caused additional offence to the family and has the potential to further damage the credibility of both the IPCC and Greater Manchester Police.

“I urge the IPCC and the coroner to immediately publish the report’s substantive conclusions and recommendations – and as much of the report as possible.

“Taking this action is clearly in the public interest. From what has been put into the public domain, it is clear that there were a catalogue of serious failings during the incident. Tony Lloyd will want to be satisfied by the Chief Constable that all the lessons have not simply been understood, but will inform future action to prevent a tragedy like this from reoccurring.”