Page 3 - Top Cover Issue 4
P. 3

TOP COVER +557'



       TOP COVER
                                                                                                     POLICE FIREARMS OFFICERS ASSOCIATION

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       5VGRJGP 5OKVJ    *  KUVQT[                 WELCOME
       Mick Burke   Rideout
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       YYY ETGCVKXGYGNN EQ WM                     TO ISSUE 4 OF TOP COVER. What an eventful few months it’s been since the

       2(1# CEEQWPVCPVU                           last magazine! We have had the horrific scenes in Woolwich, where Drummer Lee
       )GQTIG *C[  *WPVKPIFQP  %CODTKFIGUJKTG     Rigby was callously murdered and the perpetrators shot by Met Firearms Officers,
                                                  making news headlines around the globe. T e Firearms Officers who responded
                                                  displayed great courage and professionalism. I would personally like to put on record
                                                  how proud I was of them and those who dealt with the subsequent post incident
       *19 61 %106#%6 75                          procedures. In the past weeks we have also been digesting the fallout from the Azelle
       6JG 2QNKEG (KTGCTOU 1H»EGTU #UUQEKCVKQP    Rodney Public Inquiry Report. T ose of you out there carrying Firearms will already
       21 $QZ      /CTEJ  %CODTKFIGUJKTG 2'    $#  appreciate the complexity and danger of the work you do. T is report now raises the
       6                                          bar to a level unheard of before. T ere appears now to be an expectation that Officers
       E  KPHQ"RHQC EQ WM                         should be able to determine the medical condition of a subject after each shot,
       YYY RHQC EQ WM                             otherwise any subsequent shots could be deemed unlawful. I have yet to speak with
       6JG 2(1# ECPPQV CEEGRV CP[ NKCDKNKV[ HQT NQUUGU KPEWTTGF D[   anyone outside of the Police family who can believe the situation that our colleague
       CP[ RGTUQP CU C TGUWNV QH C FGHCWNV QP VJG RCTV QH CP CFXGTVKUGT   E7 now finds himself in. We have also just had the result of the Health and Safety
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                                                  trial in Manchester, looking into the tragic death of PC Ian Terry. T is raises the issue
       4GIKUVGTGF %JCTKV[ KP 'PINCPF CPF 9CNGU 0Q           of the ‘vulnerability’ of Police Firearms instructors. A Constable is found guilty and
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                                                  fined (which could have been imprisonment had the incident been a few months
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                                                  later) and the Force has pleaded guilty, receiving a massive fine and costs. Is it now
                                                  time to consider liability insurance for instructors?
                                                    On a brighter note we have just had the annual PFOA Ball. It was a fabulous
                                                  summer’s evening in Windsor with 319 guests attending. We have already booked
       &+5%18'4 /14' 10.+0'                       next year’s Ball so look out for more details in this magazine. In this edition Nadia
       5ECPPKPI VJKU 34 EQFG YKNN VCMG [QW FKTGEVN[ VQ   Cohen, a freelance journalist, looks at how saying nothing after a shooting can have
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                                                  a negative impact on public perception. Dave Blocksidge looks at the scientific
                                                  implications of the Azelle Rodney incident and Steve White from the Police
                                                  Federation shows his support to Firearms Officers and the PFOA. We hope you find
                                                  it a thought provoking issue.
                                                    T anks for all your continued support, but most of all thanks for all you do!





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