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6 TOP cover aUtUmn 2012

a current record of successful performance may of course be very role without this legal acknowledgement? Mistakes can happen
misleading. – have happened – and will continue to happen. However, the
Expert intuition in a firearms situation should be viewed as a important point is that a mistake is frequently categorised only
rapid assessment of probability with the knowledge that to wait by the outcome and not by the individual perception of what a
and delay may in certain circumstances result in the injury or death person’s actions meant in the moments prior to the shooting.
of self or another, therefore a ‘tipping point’ is reached where the Attempts to engage discussion and interest with aspects of
observed evidence has specific meaning and an action is required. behavioural and forensic science and the ‘Police’s Use of Firearms’ can
The Nobel Prize Winner Herbert Simons described be a depressingly ‘hard sell’. Part
expert intuition as “nothing of the problem is that Firearms
more and nothing less Science On The Street Officers and those supposed
than recognition”. For the experts who reconstruct fatal
Firearms Officer observing will bring historic and novel encounters often reach highly
a potential lethal threat, variable decisions about the
the situation provides a cue evidence from fatal correct course of action that
and this cue enables the was, could or should have been
officer to access information shootings and new evidence taken. Many ‘experts’ remain
stored within their memory. unconvinced that science
It is the memories of their from a continuing has anything much to offer,
training specifically applied since their own views and
to the cue which then throws programme of research. judgements remain more
up a solution or answer. precious and more relevant
Intuition is not some to them than considering the
magic formula that eliminates experiences of others, those who were actually there.
all error. Remember, decision-making occurs before the action Within this publication ‘Science on the Street’ hopes to
finally ceases. When the situation is unpredictable the influence challenge the belief that Firearms Officers have the ability to
of time compression and perception of threat may still initiate a perform without making error, under all circumstances and all
learned response, a trained action – this action may subsequently conditions. Through the circulation of TOP cover Science on the
be judged as wrong – but sometimes that’s as good as it gets. The Street will bring historic and novel evidence from fatal shootings
officer’s response was the ‘default’ action, a conclusion based upon and new evidence from a continuing programme of research. We
the stimulus reached at a specific point in a sometimes-rapid will explore the human factors of decision-making, the memories
assessment. of officers in traumatic events, the biomechanical movements of
Fortunately the law recognises that life is often not quite as offenders and the hit probability for specific target areas. Through
simple as the intuitive assessment and selection of a correct tactical the consideration of real world experiences Science On The Street
option. Human factors and individual differences are recognised will inform readers and hopefully educate those people who judge
in law by the notion of the Honestly Held Belief. How many the decisions of others by the event outcome alone ■
Firearms Officers reading this would be happy to continue in their