Recording of Firearms Operations
Anthony Grainger Inquiry · The Anthony Grainger Inquiry Report into the Death of Anthony Grainger · Issued 11 July 2019 · Addressed to: National Police Chiefs Council
Government responseHome Office: Accepted (May 2020)
DeliveryHome Office says in progress (May 2020)
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
The National Police Chiefs’ Council (“NPCC”) should, in the formulation of policy, take into account that, when establishing the facts, discharging investigative obligations and ensuring openness and transparency following the discharge of a firearm by a police officer in the course of a pre-planned firearms operation, there are significant advantages in having:
recordings of the communications of firearms commanders and authorised firearms officers (“AFOs”); and
video recordings from the body-worn video cameras of AFOs and police vehicles involved in decisive action.
Anthony Grainger Inquiry, The Anthony Grainger Inquiry Report into the Death of Anthony Grainger · 11 Jul 2019 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
AI-generated evidence summary
The Inquiry asked police leaders to record communications and video during pre-planned firearms operations. In May 2020, the Home Office stated that body-worn video (BWV) was required for Armed Response Vehicle officers and that the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) had issued guidance encouraging BWV use at decisive action (Home Office response, May 2020; Home Office, May 2020). The department added that research into a vehicle-based option and BWV for covert roles was underway with a provisional target of July 2020, but the sources do not mention recording officer communications (Home Office response, May 2020; Home Office, May 2020). The record holds nothing dated later than the response of May 2020 (Home Office response, May 2020).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 12 Oct 2026.
Government response
●Home Office · Accepted · 19 May 2020
31. The Government understands that body worn video (BWV) is now a requirement for all Armed Response Vehicle officers. Specialist Firearms Officers use BWV when deployed overtly. NPCC have issued guidance to encourage the use of BWV in MASTS operations at the point of decisive action to all Chief Officers. 32. There is ongoing work to look at BWV options for officers in covert roles which includes consideration of how to resolve some logistical and legal complexities. A project to identify a complementary vehicle-based option is undergoing research and development. The provisional target is to complete work by 31 July 2020.
Extract from: Government response to the Anthony Grainger public inquiry (accessible version)
Delivery
●Home Office says in progress · 19 May 2020
31. The Government understands that body worn video (BWV) is now a requirement for all Armed Response Vehicle officers. Specialist Firearms Officers use BWV when deployed overtly. NPCC have issued guidance to encourage the use of BWV in MASTS operations at the point of decisive action to all Chief Officers.
32. There is ongoing work to look at BWV options for officers in covert roles which includes consideration of how to resolve some logistical and legal complexities. A project to identify a complementary vehicle-based option is undergoing research and development. The provisional target is to complete work by 31 July 2020.
From: Government response to the Anthony Grainger public inquiry (accessible version)
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