Page 13 - Top Cover Issue 4

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WHO’S GOT OUR

BACKS?

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hen I first became an ARV Officer back in 1996 lives that day. Sadly for Sir Ian, other senior Officers in his force
I had little or no concept of the consequences of seized upon the opportunity to ‘attack’ him and the rest, as they
me being involved in a shooting. Sure I spoke say, is history.
Wwith my family, but that was mostly about how We all realize the impact that a Police shooting has on the
exciting the job was, and how we got the best cars (when they families of those we shoot and the communities we serve in… but
weren’t broken!) and equipment. I believed that having been what about the Police Officers? What about the men and women
involved in an incident, I would be sent back to division for a who carry firearms? Aside from the MDP and CNC they are all
few months whilst the investigation took place and then return volunteers. Why do they volunteer? What is the attraction when
for tea and medals thereafter! How naïve was that? But that’s how so much bad news follows incidents where Police discharge their
it was. In London you could have a shooting North of the river firearms? Many Firearms Officers forgo promotion, and in many
by someone in your own unit and actually never know who they cases dedicate their careers to firearms operations and training.
were and what happened. We would In my opinion it’s because
of course de-brief what we We all realize the impact that they care, because they want
knew on a boring early turn to protect the public and their
whilst patrolling around, and a Police shooting has on the unarmed colleagues, because
everyone would chip in with they relish the training, the
their own idea of how they challenges and most of all
would have dealt with it. families of those we shoot and enjoy being part of a unique
How things have changed. family – the Police firearms
Life has changed, the society the communities we serve family. T e least they deserve
we Police has changed. is someone in a position of
Camera phones, social media, in… But what about the authority standing up and
24/7 news and of course the openly supporting them. I
normal armchair critics! Over Police Officers? don’t mean a short statement
the past 15 years there have on the force intranet, or token
been a number of high profile words at a pre-arranged meeting, usually when
Police shootings in the UK. T ere have also been other incidents they are off nights! I mean in front of the camera giving it a large
where there is little or no interest by the media or the public. As portion of support. In 2006 120+ SO19 Officers handed in their
Firearms Officers we all understand that whatever the case there authorities to reflect on an unlawful killing verdict at the Harry
will be a trial by media after a shooting. Sometimes this can be Stanley Inquest. T is sent shockwaves throughout the firearms
good, other times it’s bad – very bad! What has changed over family, all over the country. T e outgoing Commissioner, Sir
the years is the attitude of the Police Service itself to these high John Stevens, took personal charge of the situation and went on
profile events. We recruit and train Firearms Officers from the TV in support of his Officers. He even went on to explain that
rank and file. We spend thousands of pounds giving them the he carried a firearm for some 11 years and how it was the most
best training and the best equipment to do their job. T ey go out difficult decision in policing to discharge a firearm. One of my
there and on extremely rare occasions they will be called upon to abiding memories of ‘our leader’ was the way he sat down in front
discharge their firearm. For some reason or other the stance by of some 150 men and women, spoke to us at the right level and
the Police Service on most occasions is to apologise immediately respected our decisions. He further reinforced his support when
to the family of the deceased, or hide behind the judicial process he was almost ambushed by the BBC outside of our base and he
and the independent investigation, and not say anything to was interviewed live on TV!
anyone including the deceased’s family. T e main question that So where do we go from here? One of the questions I asked
always comes up from Firearms Officers, and their families, is DCC Simon Chesterman in this issue of TOP COVER was “If
“why won’t a senior Officer get up in front of the cameras and you were starting your career again would you be a Firearms
openly support the actions of the Officers?”. If we look back in Officer?” His candid response was “In my head, no. In my heart,
history and see the issues that arose from the Sussex shooting of yes.” T ankfully there will always be volunteers, and thankfully
James Ashley and the subsequent sacking of the Chief Constable there will always be support for what Firearms Officers do, but
you can go some way in understanding why it might be better to now more than ever before we need the Police Federation and
keep quiet! Following ‘Stockwell’ the then Commissioner, Sir Ian Senior Officers to stand four square behind us so we at least have
Blair, appeared on TV and supported the Officers that risked their a voice ■