A SOLICITOR representing the family of a man shot dead by armed police has hit out after a confidential report was “leaked”.

The family of Anthony Grainger have been waiting for the long-awaited Independent Police Complaints Commission’s report into the police’s action to be published.

The investigation was completed in July and the findings were passed to the Crown Prosecution Service and the coroner. But the family of Mr Grainer had remained in the dark about the watchdog’s findings.

The details of its contents are now believed to have been "leaked" by someone in Greater Manchester Police. The report is said to be “highly critical” of the force.

Solicitor Jonathan Bridge, of Manchester solicitors Farleys, representing Mr Grainger’s family, said the report being leaked has added “insult to injury”.

Mr Bridge said: “The family are appalled that they have found out about the report this way. It is partly because we were promised this report last October, 2012, then probably four or five further times.

“They have waited and waited and know there is a potential prosecution. For this to be from GMP seriously adds insult to injury.”

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 was sitting outside a supermarket in the front seat of an Audi.

He suffered a single gunshot wound in his chest and died. The shot was fired through the windscreen.

He said the family found out the report had been leaked after receiving a letter on Tuesday from the IPCC warning details might be made public. However, the family has not received an apology.

Mr Bridge said he was unable to comment on the family’s feelings about the believed findings of the report due to confidentiality agreements.

He said the family had not seen the report.

Mr Bridge added: “I can’t comment about the report which is what makes it more galling that all these police officers have seen it.”

He said he got wind the report had been “disseminated” to about 20 officers several weeks ago. He believes the confidential contents has been spread further within the force. He raised concern about how it could impact any future proceedings.

Farleys will be making a complaint against GMP on behalf of Mr Grainger’s family.

Tony Murphy, partner at Bhatt Murphy Solicitors, London, which acts for Anthony Grainger’s partner Gail Hadfield-Grainger, said: “My client anxiously awaits the long overdue CPS decision in the hope that justice will be done for Anthony.“

GMP's Dep Ch Con Ian Hopkins said: "We are unable to comment on these matters as the Crown Prosecution Service is still considering the matter and it is also the subject of a coronial inquest.

"It is 19 months since the incident and it is important that these legal processes are allowed to take their course unimpeded, in order to seek resolution for both the family of Mr Grainger and the officers involved.

"It is not in anyone's interests for this matter to be delayed and I hope that matters are brought to a conclusion soon."