Police forces are effective in deploying firearms, and officers
discharged weapons at only 0.02 per cent of armed operations in
2021-22, a new report has found.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue
Services (HMICFRS) found that there are good selection processes
for firearms officers, and officers are well-trained and
well-equipped.
However, the inspectorate said improvements need to be made in
the selection and training of strategic and tactical firearms
commanders because they manage a high degree of risk.
HMICFRS has made 12 recommendations to help policing improve.
These include:
- a review of the strategic firearms commander course to ensure
candidates have enough opportunities to learn and practise
skills;
- introducing new entry criteria for strategic and tactical
firearms commanders, similar to the process used to select public
order commanders;
- sharing of armed policing exercises to allow opportunities
for learning to be identified and shared;
- improving record keeping in relation to armed operations and
introducing regular auditing of these records.
Assistant HM Inspector of Constabulary Nicola
Faulconbridge said:
“The deployment of armed officers is a high-risk area of policing
and our inspection found that officers involved in armed policing
are generally well-trained, effective and focused on keeping the
public safe.
“Although there are some encouraging findings in our report, we
also found some areas that need improvement. These included
strengthening the training of strategic firearms commanders, who
have overall command and responsibility for firearms operations.
“Our report makes 12 recommendations to help the police improve a
national system which already has good governance and
structures.”
