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| Met Police to train 600 extra armed officers to counter terrorism | Met Police to train 600 extra armed officers to counter terrorism |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Six hundred extra armed officers are to be trained to help counter the threat of a terrorist attack in London, the Metropolitan Police has announced. | Six hundred extra armed officers are to be trained to help counter the threat of a terrorist attack in London, the Metropolitan Police has announced. |
| It represents more than a 25% increase, bringing the total number of armed officers in the capital to 2,800. | It represents more than a 25% increase, bringing the total number of armed officers in the capital to 2,800. |
| Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "It will be an expensive option, but is vital to keeping us safe." | Met Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "It will be an expensive option, but is vital to keeping us safe." |
| It comes after Scotland Yard reassessed its ability to respond to armed attacks after last year's Paris terror attacks. | It comes after Scotland Yard reassessed its ability to respond to armed attacks after last year's Paris terror attacks. |
| The plans to increase in the number of armed officers - which are already under way - will more than double the Met's number of armed response vehicles "and grow a highly-trained specialist part of our capability," he said. | |
| "My firearms officers are our heroes - we expect them to run towards a terrorist attack and take action to confront and stop that threat," he said. | "My firearms officers are our heroes - we expect them to run towards a terrorist attack and take action to confront and stop that threat," he said. |
| "By increasing the number of armed response vehicle officers we have we can make sure that our firearms response continues to come from a group of highly specialist and highly skilled officers." | "By increasing the number of armed response vehicle officers we have we can make sure that our firearms response continues to come from a group of highly specialist and highly skilled officers." |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw | By BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw |
| The Met announcement is part of a wider plan across England and Wales to boost the capacity and capability of armed police officers: their numbers fell from 6,976 in 2009/10 to 5,875 in 2013/14. | The Met announcement is part of a wider plan across England and Wales to boost the capacity and capability of armed police officers: their numbers fell from 6,976 in 2009/10 to 5,875 in 2013/14. |
| In the Met, there's unlikely to be any shortage of volunteers to perform the role - there are usually four applicants for every vacancy. | In the Met, there's unlikely to be any shortage of volunteers to perform the role - there are usually four applicants for every vacancy. |
| But firearms officers remain uneasy at the way in which those who discharge their weapons are dealt with - a concern highlighted by the suspension and arrest of officer W80, who shot dead Jermaine Baker in Wood Green in December. | But firearms officers remain uneasy at the way in which those who discharge their weapons are dealt with - a concern highlighted by the suspension and arrest of officer W80, who shot dead Jermaine Baker in Wood Green in December. |
| Police expect their actions to be investigated and to be held to account. | Police expect their actions to be investigated and to be held to account. |
| But if they believe they're being treated like a criminal who fires an illegal weapon, that'll deter firearms officers from coming forward. | But if they believe they're being treated like a criminal who fires an illegal weapon, that'll deter firearms officers from coming forward. |
| The commissioner said he had taken the decision because the capital was facing a threat that was "likely to be a spontaneous attack that requires a fast response to deal with it". | |
| However, it would not change the "fundamental principle" that police in the UK are not routinely armed, with about 92% of the Met officers still unarmed, he added. | However, it would not change the "fundamental principle" that police in the UK are not routinely armed, with about 92% of the Met officers still unarmed, he added. |
| Severe threat | Severe threat |
| UK counter-terrorism bosses also revealed for the first time that police marksmen were being told to walk over casualties and go forward to confront gunmen should there be an attack. | UK counter-terrorism bosses also revealed for the first time that police marksmen were being told to walk over casualties and go forward to confront gunmen should there be an attack. |
| The terror threat level in the UK is at severe, meaning an attack is "highly likely". | |
| Outgoing City of London Police Commissioner Adrian Leppard also suggested the Army could be called in to man armed cordons if there were multiple gun and bomb attacks, as happened in Paris. | Outgoing City of London Police Commissioner Adrian Leppard also suggested the Army could be called in to man armed cordons if there were multiple gun and bomb attacks, as happened in Paris. |
| The number of armed officers across England and Wales fell by 1,000 from 2010 to 2014. | The number of armed officers across England and Wales fell by 1,000 from 2010 to 2014. |
| The Home Office has made £34m available to improve police firearms capacity and help forces deal more quickly and effectively with a possible gun attack. | The Home Office has made £34m available to improve police firearms capacity and help forces deal more quickly and effectively with a possible gun attack. |
| The commissioner indicated on his regular phone in radio programme on LBC in November that he wanted to increase the pool of firearms officers by a third and double patrols. | |
| Mayor of London Boris Johnson welcomed the increase, saying it was "absolutely essential". | Mayor of London Boris Johnson welcomed the increase, saying it was "absolutely essential". |
| "While this city remains one of the safest in the world, the terrible events in Paris last year remind us that we have to be prepared to meet any potential terrorist threat," he said. | "While this city remains one of the safest in the world, the terrible events in Paris last year remind us that we have to be prepared to meet any potential terrorist threat," he said. |
| 'Money from where?' | 'Money from where?' |
| Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said Labour gave the news a "cautious welcome" after "successfully forcing George Osborne to back down on his planned cuts to the police at the Spending Review". | Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham said Labour gave the news a "cautious welcome" after "successfully forcing George Osborne to back down on his planned cuts to the police at the Spending Review". |
| "We do have to ask where the money is coming from," he said. | "We do have to ask where the money is coming from," he said. |
| "If it's taken out of neighbourhood policing so we see police officers come off the beat, or if it's money that isn't then available to other big cities around the country, then that wouldn't be right." | "If it's taken out of neighbourhood policing so we see police officers come off the beat, or if it's money that isn't then available to other big cities around the country, then that wouldn't be right." |