Clarify separation of SIO and firearms commander roles

The MPS firearms command, MO19, commenced an internal review on this subject in July 2021, informed by evidence heard during the Inquiry hearings ongoing at that time. As part of that review, Deputy Assistant Commissioner (‘DAC’) Barbara Gray authorised an interim position requiring the SFC role in any given operation to be performed by an officer from MO19 itself, thereby guaranteeing separation between the SFC and the investigation team. This policy remains in force. The only exception to this rule relates to kidnap operations which might be conducted by a SFC from the Central Crime or Flying Squad Commands. There are clear reasons why the command structure in a kidnap firearms operation is subject to different considerations as set out in APP-AP. 1 6. In September 2021, Chief Inspector Tom Williams led the development of a formal MO19 recommendations paper, incorporating an assessment of practices in other U.K. police forces which included matters relevant to this recommendation. This paper was submitted to the Armed Policing Delivery Group on 23 February 2022. Having considered the paper, and in light of the national impact of the recommendations, a meeting was held on 8 September 2022 between MO19 and national armed policing colleagues to make progress on responding to the recommendations at a national level. It is understood that APP-AP and the National Police Firearms Training Curriculum (NPFTC) are to be updated to emphasise the need for both the role and the function of the SIO and TFC to be separated to ensure a consistent approach is taken in firearms operations across the country. This is a matter that is already addressed in MPS training. This includes learning from this Inquiry and the Chairman’s recommendations. If further input to MPS training is required following changes to APP-AP and the NPFTC this will of course be done.

The APP-AP currently requires that the functions of SFC or TFC must not be undertaken by the senior investigating officer (SIO) responsible for the investigation of the offence(s) for which the firearms operation is being conducted, or by any other person who is involved in the investigation. This requirement to separate firearms command and investigation roles has been clearly articulated in APP-AP and previous national guidance for several years. This guidance is reinforced during the training for commanders of armed operations. As a consequence of this recommendation, the College is drafting an amendment to APP-AP and NPFTC content which will further clarify and emphasise the requirement for separation, not only in respect of functions but also in terms of specific responsibilities.

No statement on delivery from College of Policing has been found in the sources searched. This is separate from the response above.