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Police Federation sceptical after London increases armed police Police Federation sceptical after London increases armed police
(35 minutes later)
The unveiling of additional armed police in London has been met with scepticism by the body representing rank-and-file officers as it warned it will take two years before the targeted increase in marksmen will be met nationally. The unveiling of additional armed police in London has been met with scepticism by the body representing rank-and-file officers as it said it would take two years for the targeted increase in marksmen to be met nationally.
The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, said an undisclosed number of the force’s planned additional 600 marksmen are now fully trained. The Metropolitan police commissioner, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe, said an undisclosed number of the force’s planned additional 600 marksmen were now fully trained.
But the Police Federation said it will take at least 24 months to recruit the 1,500 extra armed police officers planned nationwide, leaving areas of the country vulnerable to attack in the meantime. But the Police Federation said it would take at least 24 months to recruit the 1,500 extra armed police officers planned nationwide, leaving areas of the country vulnerable to attack in the meantime.
The Police Federation chair, Steve White, said: “Some forces are getting volunteers coming forward, but they are not always being selected because they don’t meet the criteria. It is vitally important that standards are maintained. The best-case scenario is two years in terms of recruiting an extra 1,500 officers.The Police Federation chair, Steve White, said: “Some forces are getting volunteers coming forward, but they are not always being selected because they don’t meet the criteria. It is vitally important that standards are maintained. The best-case scenario is two years in terms of recruiting an extra 1,500 officers.
“If there is an attack it is unlikely to be an isolated incident. We’ve got to have the resources around the country because it might happen in multiple places at the same time.”“If there is an attack it is unlikely to be an isolated incident. We’ve got to have the resources around the country because it might happen in multiple places at the same time.”
The former prime minister, David Cameron, announced in April that police in England and Wales would train extra firearms officers following a review of armed policing, which was commissioned after the terrorist attacks in Paris in November, when 130 people were killed. The former prime minister David Cameron announced in April that police in England and Wales would train extra firearms officers following a review of armed policing, which was commissioned after the terrorist attacks in Paris in November, when 130 people were killed.
Speaking in Hyde Park, Hogan-Howe said: “I think people understand that where you are going to have people as enemies who’ve got guns, we’ve got to have guns.Speaking in Hyde Park, Hogan-Howe said: “I think people understand that where you are going to have people as enemies who’ve got guns, we’ve got to have guns.
“It’s unusual, but it’s an entirely rational and reasonable response to make sure that people are aware that we’ve got the guns, and if we have to use them we’ve got people well-equipped to do that.” “It’s unusual, but it’s an entirely rational and reasonable response to make sure that people are aware that we’ve got the guns, and if we have to use them we’ve got people well equipped to do that.”
As well as the armed response teams on public patrol, Scotland Yard has specialist counter-terrorism firearms squads who are on call 24 hours a day and trained to confront and stop attackers as a priority over dealing with casualties.As well as the armed response teams on public patrol, Scotland Yard has specialist counter-terrorism firearms squads who are on call 24 hours a day and trained to confront and stop attackers as a priority over dealing with casualties.
The masked marksmen are trained to operate on water, to abseil, operate on motorbikes and will be armed with handguns and semi-automatic weapons, as well as Tasers.The masked marksmen are trained to operate on water, to abseil, operate on motorbikes and will be armed with handguns and semi-automatic weapons, as well as Tasers.
There were 5,639 authorised firearms officers in forces across England and Wales as of 31 March, according to the latest Home Office figures, which is down by eight compared with the previous year, when there were 5,647. The total number has fallen by more than 1,000 in the past five years.There were 5,639 authorised firearms officers in forces across England and Wales as of 31 March, according to the latest Home Office figures, which is down by eight compared with the previous year, when there were 5,647. The total number has fallen by more than 1,000 in the past five years.
Deputy chief constable Simon Chesterman, national lead for firearms, said in July that the majority of new marksmen would be in place by April 2017.Deputy chief constable Simon Chesterman, national lead for firearms, said in July that the majority of new marksmen would be in place by April 2017.
In London, Scotland Yard’s existing 2,200 marksmen are being boosted by 600, and the force intends to have significantly more in place by the end of the year.In London, Scotland Yard’s existing 2,200 marksmen are being boosted by 600, and the force intends to have significantly more in place by the end of the year.
White, who was elected as Police Federation chair in 2014, said the new armed officers are not external recruits but are being drafted in from other areas, including neighbourhood policing. White, who was elected as Police Federation chair in 2014, said the new armed officers were not external recruits but were being drafted in from other areas, including neighbourhood policing.
“Chief constables are having to make very difficult decisions in terms of managing their budgets and managing the competing priorities that they have,” he said.“Chief constables are having to make very difficult decisions in terms of managing their budgets and managing the competing priorities that they have,” he said.
“With counter-terrorism there is the top-sliced money and the extra money for firearms officers, but that is once we’re having an attack.“With counter-terrorism there is the top-sliced money and the extra money for firearms officers, but that is once we’re having an attack.
“Of course we need them, but we must make sure that we have the relationships built up between local communities and the police service, so that people can ring the police or speak to their bobby on the street and have the confidence to raise things with them.“Of course we need them, but we must make sure that we have the relationships built up between local communities and the police service, so that people can ring the police or speak to their bobby on the street and have the confidence to raise things with them.
“If you don’t have police officers having that daily contact in these communities you’re never going to build these relationships.”“If you don’t have police officers having that daily contact in these communities you’re never going to build these relationships.”
However, neighbourhood coverage has been increased in London. The capital’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said on Wednesday that each ward will get an additional dedicated constable.However, neighbourhood coverage has been increased in London. The capital’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, said on Wednesday that each ward will get an additional dedicated constable.
Khan said: “The safety and security of all Londoners is my first priority, and our police and security services is working incredibly hard every day on our behalf.Khan said: “The safety and security of all Londoners is my first priority, and our police and security services is working incredibly hard every day on our behalf.
“‎The threat level here in London has not changed, but it does remain at severe and especially in light of recent deadly attacks in Europe it is important we are prepared should the unthinkable happen.“‎The threat level here in London has not changed, but it does remain at severe and especially in light of recent deadly attacks in Europe it is important we are prepared should the unthinkable happen.
“We will see more armed officers on our streets, but there is no reason to be alarmed. All of our police officers are playing their part and working closely with all of our communities to prevent the possibility of an attack.”“We will see more armed officers on our streets, but there is no reason to be alarmed. All of our police officers are playing their part and working closely with all of our communities to prevent the possibility of an attack.”