THE police watchdog has issued an update regarding its investigation into the fatal shooting of Yassar Yaqub on the M62.

Mr Yaqub, 28, from Huddersfield, died from gunshot wounds to his chest following a "pre-planned police operation" four years ago.

He was the front seat passenger in one of two cars travelling in convoy from Bradford to Kirklees when four unmarked police vehicles surrounded them at junction 24 of the motorway at Ainley Top.

The driver of the car, Mohsin Amin, 32, of Broomer Street, Dewsbury, was convicted by a jury, following a two-week trial in 2018, of conspiracy to possess firearms with intent to endanger life.

The court heard how the officer who fired the fatal round saw Mr Yaqub holding a weapon, and felt he was an imminent danger.

In an update today, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said its report did not indicate "that any officer may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings".

Steve Noonan, the IOPC's Director of Major Investigations, said today: “Our investigation into the death of Yassar Yaqub concluded in 2019.

"Our detailed final report has been shared with West Yorkshire Police and HM Coroner.

"The outcome of our investigation has been shared with Mr Yaqub’s family and interested parties, while recommendations for learning have also been published on our website. A copy of our final report has recently been shared with Mr Yaqub’s family and interested parties."

He added: “Our investigation was comprehensive and detailed. Police were treated as witnesses throughout the investigation and the report did not indicate that any officer may have committed a criminal offence or behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings.

“Due to the investigation’s complexity, as well as a parallel criminal investigation and subsequent trial in late 2018 which restricted our access to a number of key witnesses, there was an inevitable impact on when we could finalise our investigation. We recognise that this will have affected Mr Yaqub’s family.

“It would not be appropriate for the IOPC to publish a report or provide further information until the inquest is concluded. As always, our thoughts remain with all those affected by Mr Yaqub’s death.”

The IOPC issued the following recommendations, which West Yorkshire Police has until May 28 of this year to respond to.

They said: "​The IOPC recommends that West Yorkshire Police (WYP) takes steps to review its use of the Central Logging of Intelligence Operations (CLIO) in Armed Policing Operations ensuring that command decisions are recorded by all relevant officers in compliance with national guidance and, wherever possible, using IT based applications to ensure the integrity of such records.

"West Yorkshire Police should also ensure that future developments in related national guidance and associated IT capabilities are considered and where appropriate introduced in a timely and structured way, with all relevant commanders and supporting functions appropriately trained and equipped.

"This follows a case where, as part of a wider investigation, it was identified that Tactical Firearms Commanders in WYP do not use CLIO in a consistent way to record the date and time that intelligence is received by them.

​"The IOPC recommends that West Yorkshire Police (WYP) conducts a review of its scene management policies, procedures and training and where necessary make changes to ensure that where paper records are maintained those records are retained for production when required in accordance with current legislation.

"This follows a case where WYP maintained a documentary scene log and when this log was requested for review, WYP were not able to produce or account for it.

​"It is recommended that West Yorkshire Police (WYP) review their system for recording all radio transmissions in relation to authorised firearms deployments to ensure the actions and decisions of the Tactical Firearms Commander, Senior Investigating Officer, Authorised Firearms Officers and other personnel deployed on such operations is recorded and can be produced into evidence accordingly.

"This follows a case where during an investigation that followed the deployment of armed officers it was established that not all radio communications were recorded due to system capability."

West Yorkshire Police said it is "aware of the recommendations and is working through the statutory framework to address them".

It's understood a provisional date for Mr Yaqub's inquest has been set for January 2022.