MPS firearms policy, performance and training

Report: 10a
Date: 28 February 2002
By: Commissioner

Summary

This report outlines the Metropolitan Police firearms response detailing structure, training, deployments and weaponry.

A. Recommendations

Members are asked to note the contents of this report.

B. Supporting information

1. The Metropolitan Police Service is a predominantly unarmed police service, committed to protecting the people of London from crime and reducing the fear of its occurrence.

2. It is a fact that in order to fulfil this duty in relation to violent crime, and certain prescribed national policing duties (such as royalty and diplomatic protection), a limited number of officers must be extensively trained in, and deployed with, firearms on a full-time or occasional basis.

3. This is not a latter day issue, the arming of police has been an acknowledged necessity for a considerable number of years, indeed the first firearms purchased by the Metropolitan Police were 50 flintlock pistols in December 1829.

4. The MPS firearms response is therefore a living strategy, which has evolved over time. This strategy is now based on the following tenets:

• the Law
• the ACPO Manual of Guidance on the Police Use of Firearms
• Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary recommendations
• accumulated operational experience
• new technologies (including research into 'less lethal' options)

5. As such it has been fully reviewed to ensure compliance with Human Rights Act legislation. The MPS Firearms Strategy is the responsibility of the MPS Firearms Policy Committee chaired by the Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations and including a wide range of members.

6. On 1 January 2002, only 1782 MPS Officers were authorised to carry firearms out of a total strength of 26,390. This figure is equal to 6.75% as a sum total. However, the real number of officers carrying firearms in London at any one moment is significantly lower due to certain officers only carrying on occasion, and those carrying on a full-time capacity being spread across a variety of shift duties.

7. It is worthy of note, that the number of Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) within the Metropolitan Police Service is not an ever increasing number, even though the statistics listed later will show a year on year increase in demand.

8. This is because the MPS is committed to using its firearms resources efficiently, through a combination of specific role identification, intelligence led deployment and risk assessment. In practical terms the Service is now getting more out of existing numbers.

9. On 1 April 2000, in support of this principle, the Diplomatic Protection Group, SO16, took on primary responsibility for providing all armed hospital guards within the Metropolitan Police District. This change in policy allowed for the removal of a significant number of AFOs previously based at borough police stations, trained and retained solely in anticipation of occasionally performing this task.

10. This now means that all AFOs within the MPS are attached to dedicated firearms units performing a clearly defined role, with appropriate supervision and administrative support.

11. This policy change has also allowed for an increased focus on the selection, monitoring and training of officers within these units, and for role related developmental firearms training to be introduced across the Service for greater proficiency.

12. This position ensures that the Metropolitan Police Service is complying with the recommendation by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, and the ACPO manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms, to the effect that firearms duties should only be carried out by those officers who are regularly trained in, and perform, such duty.

Firearms structure within the Metropolitan Police Service

13. The MPS firearms response capability comprises a number of Operational Command Units (OCUs) and Departments, each performing specific core responsibilities.

14. A listing and description of each of these is attached as Appendix 1.

Number of authorised firearms officers

15. For current total and location see chart attached as Appendix2.

Type of weaponry

16. For a listing and description of the firearms currently in service see Appendix 3. The Home Office, through Police Scientific Development Branch (PSDB) approves all ammunition in use by the MPS.

Rules of engagement

17. Whatever their role, the rules of engagement for all AFOs within the MPS are the same. Although these are contained within a number of Metropolitan Police policy documents they are actually set to national guidelines agreed by the ACPO Committee on the Police Use of Firearms, as detailed in the ACPO Manual of Guidance on the Police Use of Firearms.

18. The latest version of this manual, effective from July 2001, has been re-structured into a more accessible format, with the relevant chapters covering policy being released into the public domain. In broad terms, rules of engagement can be divided into two main categories the issue/carriage of firearms and the higher standard concerning their actual use.

Training programme

19. For a listing and description of the current levels of firearms training provided for AFOs see Appendix 4.

20. Any firearms related training is given in addition to core training provided to operational police officers, for example emergency life support training, community race relations training, officer safety training and Human Rights Act training.

21. An important strand running through all MPS firearms training is the emphasis placed on developing officers' abilities to accurately assess unfolding events, and their skills to calm and take effective control of hostile or distressed individuals, whenever possible.

22. It is acknowledged that, in addition to dealing with armed or otherwise dangerous criminals, armed police may be called to deal with persons suffering mental illness, temporary mental disorder or impairment induced by drugs or alcohol.

23. This is a particularly difficult issue. Guidelines are in place within the MPS to ensure that armed police are only deployed to incidents where the threat to members of the public and unarmed officers is considered both high and immediate. It follows that the attending armed officers' primary concern will be the reduction of this threat by the minimum amount of force possible in the prevailing circumstances, rather than the accurate assessment of the history of the individuals concerned, or making provision for their long term care. Both of these important considerations will need to be dealt with as secondary.

24. Indeed, mental health professionals and associated charitable organisations frequently stress the difficulty of accurately diagnosing an individual's condition in sterile surroundings. It would be unrealistic and unfair to attempt to place this burden on officers dealing with the initial stages of a violent or potentially dangerous incident.

25. All operational police officers receive training in dealing with impaired persons under the mandatory officer safety training programme. This takes the form of a classroom-based input and introduction into regular role-play scenarios. Officers are given effective advice on their verbal and physical approach and specific training in relevant medical conditions such as positional asphyxia and excited delirium. All officer safety training instructors receive training from mental health care professionals on their initial instructors course, and the officer safety training programme is regularly assessed to ensure relevance and compliance to current thinking.

26. In addition to this core training, all Armed Response Vehicle (ARV) officers receive a two-hour 'first responders' lecture on their initial ARV course. This presentation is given by officers from the MPS Hostage and Crisis Negotiation Unit (The MPS has the national ACPO lead on all Crisis Negotiator Training). This covers effective basic negotiation techniques, safety considerations and suicide intervention. At the end of the presentation all officers receive a laminated 'aide memoire' card.

27. All Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs), including ARV officers and Specialist Firearms Officers, receive regular refresher and tactical training. A number of scenarios built into this training have been designed to specifically test 'first responding' officers negotiation skills with non-compliant or impaired individuals. Officers take part in group feedback at the end of each scenario to develop learning points.

28. It should be noted that the MPS has a 24 hours / seven days a week Crisis Negotiator response. Armed officers may call for the attendance of a Crisis Negotiator in appropriate circumstances, and/or seek their guidance over the telephone.

29. Crisis Negotiators are available to negotiate in hostage situations, barricade incidents (the individual sought being alone) and suicide intervention. All MPS Crisis Negotiators receive two weeks initial training on the national course. On this they receive classroom inputs from criminal psychologists and mental healthcare workers. They are also assessed on scenarios designed to test their interaction with individuals behaving irrationally. The criminal psychologist attached to the Police Staff College Bramshill regularly reviews the national course. Once trained, Crisis Negotiators receive regular refresher inputs.

30. The fact that officers are trained to perform particular levels of firearms duty, or classified to carry a particular weapon, does not mean that they are automatically deployed to that extent. Authority to deploy, and specific equipment to be used, will be decided on prevailing circumstances, such as role and risk assessment.

Analysis of statistics

31. Relevant statistics are attached as follows:

• Number of armed incidents dealt with (1997-2001) Appendix 5.
• Number of times shots fired by police, injuries and fatalities(1993-2001) Appendix 6.

32. Since October 1995, the Armed Response Vehicles (ARVs) of the MPS have had standing authority to wear sidearms and deploy with MP5 carbines. Due to the MP5 being a weapon carried on a sling and not capable of holstering, it is difficult to quantify incidents where weapons are consciously drawn by officers.

33. However, the MPS collates statistics on all calls assigned to ARVs. Included within this analysis is the number of times they actually deploy at incidents. These deployments are also listed at Appendix 6.

Review arrangements

34. The MPS continually monitors its firearms strategy through the Firearms Policy Unit (SO19). There are also a number of established working groups, meeting at regular intervals, to review and develop particular ongoing aspects of the firearms strategy. Once every three months a firearms policy forum is chaired by the Assistant Commissioner Specialist Operations (ACSO). At this meeting representatives of these working groups and the Firearms Operational Command Unit commanders provide updates on their issues and establish policy, where necessary. Procedures are also in place to allow the firearms policy unit direct access to ACSO if an urgent emerging issue is identified.

C. Financial implications

There are no financial implications specifically associated with this report.

D. Background papers

Report to Metropolitan Police Authority meeting on 18th January 2002 (agenda item 7)

E. Contact details

Report author: Inspector Stuart Dark, SO16, MPS.

For information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1: Firearms structure within the Metropolitan Police Service

SO19-Service Firearms Unit

SO19 has Pan-London responsibility for providing armed support to Borough based officers and specialist departments through Armed Response Vehicles and Specialist Firearms Teams.

The Armed Response Vehicles (ARVs) primary role is to offer a 24/7 response to spontaneous incidents where the safety of the public and unarmed police officers is being, or is likely to be, endangered through persons believed to be armed or otherwise highly dangerous.

The Specialist Firearms Teams (SFOs) provide specialist firearms support for pre-planned operations and augment the immediate armed response provided by ARVs in appropriate cases.

The Training Wing of SO19 is responsible for the development and delivery of all firearms training for the Metropolitan Police Service. This training is conducted at a central nationally accredited Firearms Training Centre and at a number of sites and firearms ranges.

SO7- Serious and Organised Crime Group

This group contains the following units staffed by detectives who occasionally carry firearms:

SO7(5)- Flying Squad: The Flying Squad has Pan-London responsibility for investigating all robberies to the detriment of cash in transit companies, building societies, betting shops, Post Offices, Jewellers, Casinos and Banks. It also investigates robberies at other commercial premises where a firearm has been used or intimated.

The Flying squad also conducts pro-active operations against persons involved in the commission of these crimes. If a risk assessment necessitates it, officers may be authorised to carry firearms to affect lawful arrests and protect the public.

Projects Team: The Projects team undertakes investigations into contract killings and other life threatening situations. Officers are authorised to carry firearms for their own protection and to protect the public in specific cases.

Kidnap and Specialist investigation Unit: This unit investigates Kidnaps and other specialist crime. Officers are occasionally armed for their own protection as a result of a risk assessment.

SO7(7)-Shootings Team: This team is drawn from Flying Squad officers, it investigates all non-operation Trident discharges of firearms which prove to be non-fatal. Officers are occasionally armed for their own protection as a result of a risk assessment.

SO11

SO11 is the central Criminal Intelligence Branch of the Metropolitan Police Service. On occasion, officers from this branch conduct covert intelligence gathering in relation to serious crime. Where a risk assessment indicates the need for the carriage of firearms they may be authorised to do so for their own protection.

SO12-Special Branch

Within Special Branch there are two separate units with a firearms capability, each performing distinctly different roles.

Protection Team- The SO12 Protection team provides permanent armed protection for the Prime Minister, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary and other UK ministers and public figures assessed as being at high risk.

This is a national policing responsibility discharged on behalf of the Home Secretary. Consequently, SO12 officers are required to conduct armed protection duties throughout the UK and overseas.

Surveillance Team- SO12 Surveillance team officers undertake covert intelligence gathering against persons believed involved in acts of terrorism and serious crime.

Authority to carry firearms may be given where a risk assessment relating to a particular investigation highlights the need for officers to be armed for their own protection.

SO14-Royalty Protection

SO14 is sub-divided into three parts, each of which carry out a dedicated firearms role.

SO14(1)- provides static armed protection at Royal Palaces and Residences in London and at other specific sites across the UK.

SO14(2)- provides armed personal protection to members of the Royal Household.

Both SO14(1) and SO14(2) perform these national policing responsibilities under special tri-partite arrangements (Royal Household, Home Secretary and the Commissioner).

Armed officers from SO14(2) escort their principal throughout the UK and occasionally abroad.

Special Escort Group (SEG)- The SEG provides specialist mobile armed support to assist in the movement of UK royalty, visiting dignitaries, high value loads and high risk prisoners.

The deployment of SEG officers is regulated through a risk assessment process, applied to each individual movement.

At times of high demand officers from SO14(1) and the SEG may assist SO16 in the provision of Armed Hospital Guards.

SO16-Diplomatic Protection Group

The Diplomatic Protection Group (DPG) is responsible for the static armed protection of Diplomatic Embassies, Missions and premises within the Metropolitan Police District.

It also undertakes high visibility patrolling in the vicinity of such premises and offers a rapid armed response capability in case of alarm activation or attack.

This is a national policing responsibility undertaken on behalf of the Home Secretary, honouring the UK's obligations under the Vienna Convention.

The DPG also provides armed security for certain domestic political premises and residences, such as Downing Street and the Palace of Westminster.

DPG officers may also be called upon to provide other static protection, for example armed Jury protection, however this is a rare occurrence and will only take place if a risk assessment necessitates it.

In April 2000 the DPG's role was expanded to encompass a Pan-London responsibility for providing Armed Hospital Guards.

The introduction of armed officers into such a sensitive environment is always a serious matter. The MPS will only deploy armed officers to a hospital guard at the specific request of the local Borough command team and where a risk assessment has revealed the likelihood of a violent attack. The planning and management of such an operation is conducted in close consultation with relevant hospital staff and managers.

In addition, officers from the DPG act in a support capacity to the SO19 Armed Response Vehicles at particular incidents. They are also occasionally tasked to respond to spontaneous firearms incidents across London in times of exceptional demand.

Heathrow Airport OCU

Heathrow Airport OCU has primary responsibility for providing a visible armed deterrent and response to acts of terrorism within a specific area surrounding Heathrow International Airport.

The level of armed officers conducting security duty varies daily according to threat assessment, vulnerable flight departures/arrivals and VIP movements.

Greenwich Borough OCU

There is a small, dedicated armed security section located on this Borough to provide static protection for trials at the Belmarsh High Security Courts (Magistrates and Crown Courts).

Trials are only set at these courts upon judicial direction, where there is a specific threat assessment indicating a high risk of escape or rescue.

At times when there are no trials sitting officers either supplement the Borough strength by performing unarmed local duties or assist SO16 in the maintenance of ongoing Armed Hospital Guards.

Central London Territorial Support Group

Officers from Central London Territorial Support Group (TSG) are not routinely armed.

However, in certain circumstances, supported by intelligence and risk assessments, they are deployed on dedicated Central London Armed Security Patrols in response to an identified increase in the threat from terrorism.

They are also used for the protection of the high security MPS police station used to detain terrorist and high risk prisoners, throughout the period of their detention.

CO12- Public Order Branch

Public Order Branch contains a limited number of officers trained to provide a Baton Gun capability at the scene of serious violent disorder.

These officers are not routinely deployed with Baton Guns and do not carry any other type of firearm.

Rifle Section

This specialist section provides the MPS with a longer-range firearms capability. Rifle Officers are used at ceremonial events and state occasions where a risk assessment indicates such a requirement and in support of specialist firearms teams at certain pre-planned operations.

The officers who make up the rifle section are drawn from SO16, Heathrow Airport OCU and SO19.

Compiled 3/01/02 by Insp.Dark,SO16 with assistance of Firearms Policy Unit, SO19.

Appendix 2: Authorised firearms officers within the Metropolitan Police Service

This chart is complied with figures from the January 2001 census conducted by the Firearms Policy Unit, SO19.

Please note: these figures provide a ‘snapshot’ number which is only totally accurate at the time of compilation. Minor fluctuations will occur over the course of a year as officers transfer in and out of relevant roles.

Appendix 3: Weaponry available to the Metropolitan Police Service

• Glock 17 Self-loading Pistol (SLP) 9mm.
  The basic issue sidearm of the MPS.
• Smith and Wesson Model 10 Revolver
  Previous basic issue sidearm, now superseded by the Glock 17. There are very few still in service, and little training in them as the need diminishes.
• MP5 Carbine
  This weapon is available for deployment in four versions:
  • A2 with solid stock.
    A single shot 9mm weapon operationally deployed by the Diplomatic Protection Group-SO16, Heathrow Airport Security officers and, in limited numbers, by Royalty Protection-SO14.
  • A3 with folding stock.
    A single shot 9mm weapon operationally deployed by the SO19 Firearms Branch, Belmarsh Court Security and SO12-Special Branch officers for ease of carriage.
  • MP5 Kurtz.
    A fully automatic shortened version of the MP5 Carbine, available for SO12-Special Branch Protection officers only. This weapon requires specific ministerial authority prior to its deployment and has very rarely been operationally carried.
  • Silenced MP5 Carbine
    This weapon is available for SO19 Specialist Firearms Officer (SFO) use. It has a very limited usage and has never been operationally deployed to date.
• Remmington 870 Shotgun
  This weapon is available for deployment in two versions:
  • Standard Barrel
    This weapon is primarily used, in conjunction with specialist munitions, for the humane destruction of animals, which are dangerous or are unnecessarily suffering.
  • Shortened Barrel
    This weapon is primarily used, in conjunction with specialist munitions, for entry purposes.
• Heckler and Koch G3K Rifle
  This is a 7.62mm self-loading weapon which is operationally deployed by SO19 – Specialist Firearms Officers for close containment.
• Steyr SSG Rifle
  This is a 7.62mm single shot rifle, operationally deployed by Rifle Section officers.
• L1401A Baton Gun
  This weapon is primarily available for deployment at public order incidents. It has recently been upgraded with improved sighting equipment and a new generation baton round for greater accuracy. (see Appendix H on 'Less lethal' options)

Compiled 03/01/02 by Inspector Dark,SO16 with assistance from the Firearms Policy Unit,SO19

Appendix 4

Appendix 4 is available from the MPA, in hard copy only.

Appendix 5: Number of incidents assigned to Armed Response Vehicles (ARVs) within the Metropolitan Police District.

The following chart shows Armed Response Vehicle assigned calls and deployments for the years 1997 to 2001.

Note: Although there has been a slight reduction in the total ARV calls between 1999 and 2001, this was due to positive police action rather than a decrease in demand. As a result of consultation between SO19 and the service control room CO55, the initial attendance of ARV’s has become more focused. This is reflected in the actual deployment figures.

Compiled 03/01/02 by Inspector Dark, SO16 with assistance of the Firearms Policy Unit, SO19. 

Appendix 6: Shooting incidents within the Metropolitan Police District

This chart details the number of firearms incidents involving shots fired by the MPS and the resultant injuries or fatalities.

Send an e-mail linking to this page

Feedback