The officers, five suspended and one still on duty, are due to attend a police station in Kent this afternoon when they will be told their fates.

Meanwhile, the Sussex Police Authority meets today to discuss reinstating Chief Constable Paul Whitehouse, who was suspended on March 8 for allegedly misleading the public and the authority over the shooting.

The authority will also hear from his suspended deputy Mark Jordan who, like Mr Whitehouse, is expected to fight to be recalled. It will decide whether to suspend Assistant Chief Constable Nigel Yeo.

All these events stem from the shooting of James Ashley, in January last year, during a police raid that went horribly wrong.

Officers were told Ashley, a convicted killer wanted in connection with drugs offences, was armed and dangerous. In fact, he was unarmed and naked in bed when police burst into his St Leonards flat.

Charges considered by the Crown Prosecution Service and Kent Police, which looked into the shooting, could include murder or manslaughter against the officer who pulled the trigger, and "malfeasance" or misconduct, in the form of laying information knowing it to be false, against other officers.

The Kent inquiry led to the suspension of PC Chris Sherwood, who fired the shot, Supt Chris Burton, who was in overall charge of the operation, Det Insp Kevin French, the crime manager, Insp Chris Siggs, who was operational planner, and PC Steve Crocker, who was tactical adviser.

APC, still on duty, will also being going to Kent today.

The Kent inquiry also led to Mr Jordan's suspension and the allegation that his decision to release firearms for the operation was based on insufficient intelligence.

Asecond inquiry, by Hampshire Chief Constable Sir John Hoddinott, led to the suspension of Mr Whitehouse and an accusation that he misled by saying the operation was properly planned.

Both Mr Whitehouse and Mr Jordan, who deny the claims, face possible disciplinary action by the authority.

An extra twist in the story happens at midnight tonight when two of the authority members who joined the "yes" camp in the 9-8 vote to suspend Mr Whitehouse, Sally Haslem and Thomas Wiggins, come to the end of their tenure with the authority.

If the authority adjourns its deliberations to another day then their replacements, Margaret Bishop, from Worthing, and Commander Colin Marsh, from Rye, will be taking part in the crucial decision without having heard the chief and deputy in person.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.