AN investigation into the fatal shooting of a Bolton man by armed police has been completed.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it has finished looking into the death of Anthony Grainger and will now pass its findings to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the coroner.

The CPS said it will review the findings and decide whether or not to bring criminal charges.

Mr Grainger, aged 36, was shot during what Greater Manchester Police said was a “pre-planned operation” by firearms officers in Culcheth, near Warrington, on March 3 last year.

He suffered a single gunshot wound in his chest and died.

The GMP firearms officer who fired the fatal shot was interviewed twice under criminal caution and the IPCC said some initial evidence relating to him was provided to the CPS in August last year.

An IPCC spokesman said: “The Independent Police Complaints Commission has completed its investigation into the fatal shooting of Anthony Grainger and passed its report to the Crown Prosecution Service and the coroner.

“A full investigation report has now been supplied to the CPS and the coroner. It will be for the CPS to determine whether there is evidence which warrants criminal charges.”

A CPS spokesman said: “We have received a file of evidence from the IPCC in relation to the death of Anthony Grainger.

“We will review this file and make a charging decision in due course."

The spokesman added that there was currently no timescale for a decision.

The three men who were accused of plotting a robbery with Mr Grainger were cleared of all charges after a trial in Manchester last September.

In March this year the family and friends of Mr Grainger, who lived in Deane, held a vigil on the first anniversary of his death.

The memorial was held in Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester and was organised by the Justice 4 Grainger campaign.