The Home Secretary’s role in approving police use of less
lethal weapons has been strengthened, in the first change
to the firearms code for 17 years.
This new code will meet one of the recommendations of the
Grainger Inquiry, which called for the process to have
greater clarity after they found Greater Manchester Police
was using CS cannisters without Secretary of State
approval.
The inquiry followed the death of Anthony Grainger, who was
fatally shot by Greater Manchester Police.
Policing Minister said:
We set up the Anthony Grainger Inquiry to provide answers
for his family and to ensure policing learned the lessons
from the tragedy.
This new code shows we are responding swiftly to the
inquiry’s recommendations.
The use of firearms by the police should always be a last
resort, considered only where there is a serious risk to
public or police safety.
‘Less lethal weapons’ approved for police use currently
includes tasers and attenuating energy projectiles.
The approval process has been strengthened by stating
explicitly that Secretary of State approval is required for
all new less lethal weapons systems and all significant
changes existing systems.
The new ‘Armed Policing and Police Use of Less Lethal
Weapons Code of Practice’ will be published by the College
of Policing. It replaces the 2003 Code of Practice for the
Police Use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons.
The code of practice sets out the basic principles of the
selection, evaluation, approval, authorisation,
acquisition, training and deployment of firearms and less
lethal weapons by the police.