Page 10 - Top Cover Issue 7

10 TOP COVER ISSUE 7

E7 - Retired Firearms

Officer to be charged

with Murder

The recent news regarding the decision by the CPS to prosecute
officer E7, a Met Firearms Officer, has sent shock waves around
the police firearms community. However there are issues relating
to this case that have caused serious concern to many officers up What does this mean to Firearms Officers?
and down the country. Pre-planned intelligence-led operations
are highly complex and involve laws around RIPA. The shooting
of Azelle Rodney occurred in April 2005, over 9 years ago. His The decision to charge E7 may leave you feeling uneasy and
family have campaigned tirelessly for an Inquest and then finally considering whether you should continue to shoulder the
a public inquiry which was heard last year. The delay in the responsibility of carrying a firearm on behalf of the State.
Rodney family hearing the facts around the death of their loved When we become firearms officers, whether in an armed
one has without doubt fueled the concerns they have around force such as the CNC or MDP, or as a volunteer in a Home
the case. No-one benefits from a delay such as this. Office force we are aware of the issues around using ‘lethal’
force and the subsequent investigation into our actions
In a statement, Alison Saunders, the Director of Public that will follow if we do. Being a police officer is a huge
Prosecutions, said: “Azelle Rodney died after the discharge of a responsibility, being a firearms officer is even greater. ACPO
police firearm on 30 April 2005. Following the outcome of the Armed Policing Lead DCC Simon Chesterman said following
public inquiry, the Independent Police Complaints Commission the decision ‘carrying a gun on behalf of the State is a big
re-referred the matter to the CPS, providing us with the evidence ask that just got bigger’. Many of you will be asking if it’s
previously gathered and the further evidence and material worth it. Is the additional risk worth the potential impact
which has emerged since the initial referral. We have carefully on you and your family? Could your family cope? Could you
considered the new file of evidence submitted to us and have cope?
decided that a former Metropolitan Police officer, currently
identified only as E7, will be prosecuted for murder. The decision We became firearms officers to protect people, to protect
to prosecute was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown society against the most ruthless and determined criminals.
Prosecutors. We have determined that there is a realistic prospect We all know what happened in Hungerford, Dunblane and
of conviction and that a prosecution is in the public interest.’’ more recently Whitehaven. We remember 7/7 and the fear
that swept the country, and we remember the constant
Of course as we know, E7 is not the first police firearms officer to threat of terrorism that is always present. And then of course BUY HERE
be charged with murder. PC Chris Sherwood from Sussex Police there are our unarmed colleagues, many of which have
was acquitted of murder in 2001, after he shot James Ashley, 39, been murdered on duty at the hands of those with firearms.
while Ashley was naked and unarmed. That’s why we do what we do. E7 will be the first person to
The shooting had taken place while police searched his flat in say everyone should carry on, it’s business as usual, because
Hastings, East Sussex. he, like all of us, knows how crucial your role is.

In 1997 Met Police Firearms Officer PC Patrick Hodgson was The next few months are going to be challenging, the
cleared at the Old Bailey of the murder and manslaughter of spotlight will be on armed policing like never before. So
suspected car thief David Ewin, 38. when the media frenzy starts and the vociferous minority
He stood trial three times after the jury failed to deliver a verdict spout off always remember that the vast majority of the
on the first two occasions. public you serve really do support you, and will continue to
support you, and are grateful that you take the additional
The PFOA will continue to support E7 and his family. The Police responsibility on their behalf of carrying a firearm.
Federation will be providing the best lawyers to support him
through the judicial process as well as a Fed Rep to voice any
concerns at Gold group meetings.
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