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Police chiefs to discuss offering guns to all frontline officers Police chiefs to discuss offering guns to all frontline officers
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Police chiefs will consider the possibility of offering every frontline police officer in England and Wales a gun to counter the threat of a marauding terrorist attack, the Guardian has learned.Police chiefs will consider the possibility of offering every frontline police officer in England and Wales a gun to counter the threat of a marauding terrorist attack, the Guardian has learned.
A discussion paper on the subject has been drawn up for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, which wants to look at how to boost armed police numbers to deal with a crisis, following the experience of the Manchester and London Bridge attacks. A discussion paper on the subject has been drawn up for the National Police Chiefs’ Council, which wants to look at how to boost armed police numbers able to intervene in a crisis following the experience of the Manchester and London Bridge attacks.
The paper, drawn up by Simon Chesterman, the national lead on firearms police, is intended to start a debate on the issue among police leaders – although it is thought at this stage unlikely a wider arming will be agreed upon. But it may also mark the start of a shift in thinking on the topic, which could speed up in the event of any future attacks. The paper, drawn up by Simon Chesterman, the national lead on firearms police, is intended to start a debate on the issue among police leaders – although it is thought at this stage unlikely that a wider arming will be agreed upon. But it may also mark the start of a shift in thinking on the topic, which could speed up in the event of any future attacks.
Traditionally most police in Great Britain are unarmed – unlike their counterparts in Northern Ireland – but police sources say the longstanding principle is under pressure after four terrorist attacks in three months. Traditionally, most police in Great Britain are unarmed – unlike their counterparts in Northern Ireland – but police sources say the longstanding principle is under pressure after four terrorist attacks in three months.
One of the reasons the topic is on the agenda is a fear of how some areas – particularly those outside London – would cope with a marauding terrorist attack. One of the reasons the topic is on the agenda is concern over how some areas – particularly those outside London – would cope with a marauding terrorist attack. Those behind the discussion point to the fact that in the 2013 terrorist murder of Lee Rigby, in Woolwich, south London, unarmed police were unable to intervene until their armed colleagues arrived on the scene. One source added: “It will allow officers to access a firearm in the event of an attack.”
Those behind the discussion point to the fact that in the 2013 terrorist murder of Lee Rigby, in Woolwich, south London, unarmed police could not intervene until their armed colleagues arrived on the scene. One source added: “It will allow officers to access a firearm in the event of an attack.” Until now, the preferred option was for highly trained armed officers to be deployed, patrolling the streets in armed response vehicles (ARVs), and ready to be sent to the scene of attack. But the problem is that it might not be possible to get such a unit to the scene of a terror attack on time, particularly outside the capital.
Until now the preferred option was for highly trained armed officers to be deployed, patrolling the streets in armed response vehicles (ARV), and ready to be sent to the scene of attack. But the problem is that it might not be possible to get such a unit to the scene of a terror attack on time, particularly outside the capital. At the council meeting, the police chiefs will be asked to consider how they would deal with a London Bridge-style attack. If they think it would take too long to send enough armed officers to the scene, they are asked to consider whether it would make sense to increase their number of armed response vehicles or to arm frontline officers.
At the council meeting, the police chiefs will be asked to consider how they would deal with a London Bridge-style attack. If they think it would take too long to get enough armed officers to the scene, they are asked to consider whether it would make sense to increase their number of armed response vehicles or to arm frontline officers. London has is thought to have enough armed officers to rush to the scene of an attack. In the case of London Bridge, it took eight minutes for officers to find and kill the three terrorists who were attacking people with knives.
London has is thought to have enough armed officers to rush to the scene of an attack. In London Bridge it took eight minutes for officers to find and kill three terrorists attacking people with knives. The Westminster attack in March saw around 50 armed officers on the scene in 11 minutes, although in that instance the attacker was stopped because an armed protection officer happened to be in the grounds of the Houses of Parliament.
The Westminster attack in March saw around 50 armed officers on the scene in 11 minutes, although in that instance the attacker was stopped because an armed protection officer who happened to be in the grounds of the Houses of Parliament shot him. There has already been one drive to increase the numbers of fully trained armed officers, after the Paris attacks in November 2015. That effort is on target, but only just, and some senior officers believe it now insufficient.
There has already been an attempt to increase the numbers of fully trained armed officers, after the Paris attacks in November 2015. That effort is on target, but only just, and some senior officers believe it now insufficient. One option in the paper for increasing the number of armed officers is for every officer to be offered a sidearm, as officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) already are. The paper also suggests that beat officers who are currently unarmed would get about two weeks of training in how to handle a handgun. That is four weeks less training than fully qualified armed officers receive.
One option in the paper for increasing the number of armed officers is for every officer to be offered a sidearm, like officers in the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The beat officers would receive a day of refresher training and reaccreditation twice a year. The upside of this option is that police chiefs might get enough officers volunteering, and it would boost numbers of officers who can handle a gun in a crisis more quickly than other options.
The paper also suggests that beat officers who are currently unarmed would get about two weeks of training in how to handle a handgun. That is much less training than fully qualified armed officers receive. Their training takes six weeks. One complication is logistics. Handguns cost £500 each, and training would further stretch officer numbers, as they would have to take time off in order to train.
The beat officers would then get a day of refresher training and reaccreditation twice a year. The upside of this option is police chiefs might get enough officers volunteering, and it would boost numbers of officers who can handle a gun in a crisis more quickly than other options.
One complication is the practicalities. Handguns cost £500 each, and training would further stretch officer numbers, as they would have to take time off to train.
In a recent survey of Met officers, the Met Police Federation found just over half said they would carry a gun routinely if asked to do so. One in 10 said they would quit rather than carry a firearm.In a recent survey of Met officers, the Met Police Federation found just over half said they would carry a gun routinely if asked to do so. One in 10 said they would quit rather than carry a firearm.