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| David Cameron 'orders review into police's use of guns' | David Cameron 'orders review into police's use of guns' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The prime minister has ordered a review into the police's use of guns following last month's Paris attacks, the BBC understands. | The prime minister has ordered a review into the police's use of guns following last month's Paris attacks, the BBC understands. |
| The review will examine whether the law gives enough support to officers making a "split-second" decision to shoot. | |
| It follows concerns from senior police that firearms officers do not have the necessary legal or political backing to work with confidence. | It follows concerns from senior police that firearms officers do not have the necessary legal or political backing to work with confidence. |
| Labour warned of damaging police-community relations. | Labour warned of damaging police-community relations. |
| Its leader Jeremy Corbyn told the Sunday Times that weakening oversight would damage public confidence in the police. | Its leader Jeremy Corbyn told the Sunday Times that weakening oversight would damage public confidence in the police. |
| 'Split-second circumstances' | 'Split-second circumstances' |
| The issue is believed to have been raised at recent briefings by the Met Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, with Mr Cameron and other ministers, and at a National Security Council meeting last week discussing counter-terrorism. | The issue is believed to have been raised at recent briefings by the Met Commissioner, Bernard Hogan-Howe, with Mr Cameron and other ministers, and at a National Security Council meeting last week discussing counter-terrorism. |
| The internal review - to be carried out by the Home Office, the Attorney General's Office and the Ministry of Justice - is expected to examine whether current law is sufficient in supporting officers who have a genuinely-held belief that opening fire is necessary in the circumstances. | The internal review - to be carried out by the Home Office, the Attorney General's Office and the Ministry of Justice - is expected to examine whether current law is sufficient in supporting officers who have a genuinely-held belief that opening fire is necessary in the circumstances. |
| Of the 130,000 officers in England and Wales, around 6,000 are trained to use guns. | Of the 130,000 officers in England and Wales, around 6,000 are trained to use guns. |
| Currently the Criminal Law Act 1967 allows for the use of "reasonable force" and the Criminal Justice Act 2008 recognises the defence that an officer had an "honest and instinctive" belief that opening fire was reasonable. | Currently the Criminal Law Act 1967 allows for the use of "reasonable force" and the Criminal Justice Act 2008 recognises the defence that an officer had an "honest and instinctive" belief that opening fire was reasonable. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| BBC political correspondent Chris Mason | BBC political correspondent Chris Mason |
| The attacks in Paris just over a month ago have provoked deep soul searching both within government here and amongst police forces. | The attacks in Paris just over a month ago have provoked deep soul searching both within government here and amongst police forces. |
| How would they cope if something similar were to happen here? | How would they cope if something similar were to happen here? |
| I'm told that at recent briefings to the prime minister given by the country's most senior policeman, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan Howe, serious concerns were raised that officers trained to carry guns did not have the clear legal and political backing they needed to work with confidence. | I'm told that at recent briefings to the prime minister given by the country's most senior policeman, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan Howe, serious concerns were raised that officers trained to carry guns did not have the clear legal and political backing they needed to work with confidence. |
| So, David Cameron wants to check whether the existing law goes far enough - in allowing an officer to use what is described as "reasonable force," and recognises the defence that an officer had an "honest and instinctive" belief that opening fire was appropriate. | So, David Cameron wants to check whether the existing law goes far enough - in allowing an officer to use what is described as "reasonable force," and recognises the defence that an officer had an "honest and instinctive" belief that opening fire was appropriate. |
| A government source said: "Terrorist incidents both at home and abroad have shown very clearly the life and death decisions police officers have to make in split-second circumstances. | A government source said: "Terrorist incidents both at home and abroad have shown very clearly the life and death decisions police officers have to make in split-second circumstances. |
| "We must make sure that when police take the ultimate decision to protect the safety of the public they do so with the full support of the law and the state - there can be no room for hesitation when lives are at risk." | "We must make sure that when police take the ultimate decision to protect the safety of the public they do so with the full support of the law and the state - there can be no room for hesitation when lives are at risk." |
| But Mr Corbyn told the Sunday Times that shooting on the street could "diminish" public confidence in the police. | But Mr Corbyn told the Sunday Times that shooting on the street could "diminish" public confidence in the police. |
| He said: "There has to be a very robust and strong independent inquiry into what the police do. Like any other public organisation, they must be held to account. I hope this is not a political stunt." | He said: "There has to be a very robust and strong independent inquiry into what the police do. Like any other public organisation, they must be held to account. I hope this is not a political stunt." |
| The review will also consider the investigatory processes in cases where there have been police shootings, including the inquest and inquiry process. | The review will also consider the investigatory processes in cases where there have been police shootings, including the inquest and inquiry process. |
| It forms part of the government's plan to significantly increase the number of police firearms officers in the wake of the Paris attacks. | It forms part of the government's plan to significantly increase the number of police firearms officers in the wake of the Paris attacks. |