Javid angers officers over ‘shambolic’ firearms review

SAJID JAVID, the Home Secretary, has become embroiled in a row with police over a “shambolic” review they claim has failed to protect armed officers from lengthy and damaging investigations if they shoot suspects.

The police federation, which represents frontline officers, said the conclusions of a three-year firearms review, revealed in a short Home Office statement, did nothing to allay armed officers’ fears of being treated as suspects “just for doing their job”.

The review was set up in 2015 after Lord Hogan-howe, then Metropolitan Police Commissioner, warned that the lack of protection for firearms officers would prevent forces recruiting the number they needed to fight terrorists on Britain’s streets. It concluded “the right legal and procedural protections” are in place following shootings and confirmed rules that police witnesses should be separated after an incident to prevent them sharing information.

The Home Office said the revised guidance, approved by Mr Javid, struck the right balance between the need for robust investigation while supporting firearms officers in the line of duty.

Ché Donald, the federation’s vicechairman, said: “This was meant to be a meaningful review to allay the very real fears of serving firearms officers.

“Three years down the line there is still a shortfall of more than 600 firearms officers – and a review that ap- pears to have been written on the back of a cigarette packet.”