A top police officer is facing possible criminal charges over evidence he gave in a fatal shooting case, the police watchdog said.

An investigation was launched after concerns were raised about evidence given by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) Assistant Chief Constable Steven Heywood at a public inquiry into the death of Anthony Grainger, who was fatally shot by a firearms officer in 2012.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has now referred its findings to the Crown Prosecution Service as there is “an indication that ACC Heywood may have committed a criminal offence”.

Some of ACC Haywood’s notes in a log book may have been written after the shooting, it has been claimed , and not necessarily contemporaneous. He has previously admitted and apologised for his record-keeping, but strongly denies misleading the inquiry.

“This was not any great conspiracy from Greater Manchester Police,” he told the hearing. “This is my personal failing as a firearms commander for not doing the paperwork.”