Sussex police shoot 'armed' man in Copthorne Published duration 9 November 2010

A man, who was believed to be armed, has been shot by Sussex Police.

Officers received reports of a man threatening a woman at a house in Borers Arms Road, Copthorne, at 2200 GMT on Monday.

Police said following negotiations a shot was fired and a 56-year-old man was taken to hospital with injuries to his hand. The woman was unharmed.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said firearms and ammunition had been found at the house.

A Sussex Police spokeswoman said the injured man was now "helping police with their inquiries".

'Loud bangs'

She added: "A woman was led safely from the house.

"Firearms have been found in the house and their viability and type are yet to be ascertained."

The spokeswoman added that officers had given the injured man first aid at the scene before he was treated at the East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.

The IPCC said a woman had originally called police to report that her husband was threatening her and had access to guns.

Investigators from the IPCC said firearms and ammunition had been found in the house but would require further examination before the type of guns could be confirmed.

The IPCC has decided the circumstances of the shooting will be independently investigated.

Independent investigators have been deployed to Sussex where they will examine accounts from officers, check police logs and contact witnesses.

They will also carry out ballistics testing and check CCTV in the area.

IPCC Commissioner Mike Franklin said: "Any incident where police fire at a member of the public is extremely serious and we will be scrutinising the decision making and actions of the officers involved to examine whether they acted appropriately."

Sussex Police's major crime branch is investigating the original report that was made to police - of firearms offences and a woman being threatened.

The IPCC said the man who was shot had been treated for an injury to his hand and wrist and had been moved to a London hospital, but his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

BBC South East Today's Ian Palmer said Borers Arms Road was cordoned off and officers remained at the scene on Tuesday afternoon.

Some residents described hearing two loud bangs but thought they were fireworks being let off.