Page 6 - Top Cover Issue 15

6 TOP COVER MAY 2019

Is it now time to

Arm more officers?

by a Firearms Commander

A few years ago, so-called ‘routine
arming’ was a taboo subject. Yet since Present
number
the latest round of dreadful terrorist
Not issued specially
attacks it has been heavily debated in
to all, trained
the press, on social media and, most All trained, but more to carry
importantly, at the Chief Constables’ Routinely Routinely but only trained firearms
Council, which concluded in early armed on armed on issued as and issued is about
2018 not to roll out arming to a wider or off duty duty needed as needed right No view
group of officers, but to encourage
8.9% 25.2% 16.8% 42.5% 6.2% 0.5%
forces to deploy more AFOs. At a
previous meeting, Armed Policing Routine arming – 34.1%
National Lead Simon Chesterman Nationally,
All officers trained – 50.9%
suggested a two to three week handgun N = 32,366
course could be a possibility.
More officers trained – 93.4%
I’ve been a police officer for 20 years
and I don’t support arming all officers,
nor do I think it’s possible. Having Nationally, N = 32,302
been an (unarmed) Tactical Firearms
Prepared
Commander for seven years, I have led Prepared Prepared to carry Not
countless armed operations to keep Prepared to carry a to carry a firearm prepared
our streets safe, utilising highly trained to carry a firearm at a firearm on duty if to carry a
firearm all all times on duty if ordered to firearm on
firearms officers. They are without
the time on duty necessary do so duty No view
doubt the most professional group
of people it has been my privilege to 27.2% 28% 21.3% 12.1% 10.9% 0.5%
serve with. But I’ve long since worried
Volunteer to carry – 76.5%
they are few and far between. Out of
122,404 in England and Wales and
(1)
British Transport Police , only 6,459 Views on the issue and use of firearms, 2017
(2)
are armed . Just five per cent.
Think about that: in the whole of The recent Police Federation of Bridge attacks, but outside of our
England of Wales, only 6,459 armed England and Wales (PFEW) poll of large cities the response time would
(3)
police. When you read this, some will officers revealed just 6.2% of officers be significantly longer. Some chief
be on rest days, on holiday, or training, thought there were currently sufficient constables have publicly warned of
(4)
while others will be on sick leave. The armed officers. In total, 93.4% of the long response time , up to an hour in
night shift will be sleeping. Many will 32,366 officers who responded stated rural areas. I have identified incidents
be on foot conducting static guarding that more officers should carry a where no armed officers were on duty
at locations like Downing Street, firearm, a remarkable statistic. In fact, in my county – all responding to an
palaces and embassies. Others will be 76.5% said they would volunteer to incident in a neighbouring county in
providing close protection to VIPs and carry, with 12% of respondents saying response to an incident.
senior politicians. And all rightly so. they would carry if ordered to do so. During a recent desktop exercise
But that doesn’t leave many to protect There is no doubting the impressive envisaging a marauding knife attack,
the public. eight-minute response to the London we identified that the real-world

WWW.PFOA.CO.UK