Process for firearms officer return to duty after fatal shooting
Jermaine Baker Inquiry · Report into the Death of Jermaine Baker · Issued 5 July 2022 · Addressed to: National Police Chiefs Council
Government responseMetropolitan Police Service: Not applicable (Oct 2022)College of Policing: Noted (Oct 2022)
DeliveryNo statement from National Police Chiefs Council found
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation, 15.20
There needs to be proper and objective consideration by the NPCC as to whether, and if so when, it is appropriate for a firearms officer to return to active deployment following their part in a fatal shooting. Such consideration must always occur at an appropriately senior level in the organisation and take account of the views of the family of the deceased and all relevant public interest matters. A proper audit trail must be kept of the process.
Jermaine Baker Inquiry, Report into the Death of Jermaine Baker · 5 Jul 2022 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
AI-generated evidence summary
In October 2022, Andy Walker, writing for the College of Policing and NPCC Armed Policing, stated that the National Police Chiefs' Council would "consult with stakeholders in developing further guidance" regarding officers returning to work following a police shooting (Andy Walker response, Oct 2022). The Metropolitan Police Service stated in October 2022 that it did not consider it appropriate to respond at that stage because the recommendation applied nationally (Metropolitan Police Service response, Oct 2022). The record holds no update since the Metropolitan Police Service's response of October 2022 (Metropolitan Police Service response, Oct 2022).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026.
About this summary
Government response
●Metropolitan Police Service · Not applicable · 28 Oct 2022
As this is a national recommendation the MPS does not consider it would be appropriate to respond at this stage.
Response document: Public Inquiry into the Death of Jermaine Baker: Update on Recommendations
●College of Policing · Noted · 27 Oct 2022
Current post incident APP includes the following guidance. ‘An officer’s authorisation to carry a firearm operationally should not automatically be removed because of their involvement in an incident, nor should they be automatically excluded from firearms training or other related duties. The force should make an evidence-based assessment in consultation with the IIA, the force PSD and the occupational health advice provider, as to when officers/staff should be permitted to resume their duties. This includes duties or roles in which they have regular access to firearms. A chief officer should regularly review, in consultation with the IIA, any decision to restrict or remove a KPW from their core role. Officers who have discharged their firearm must complete a mandatory occupational health post-incident support programme provided by their force.’ As a consequence of this recommendation, the NPCC will consult with stakeholders in developing further guidance in respect of officers returning to work in any capacity following their involvement in a ‘police shooting’.
Response document: Jermaine Baker Public Inquiry (College of Policing and NPCC Armed Policing update to the Inquiry)
Delivery
No statement on delivery from National Police Chiefs Council has been found in the sources searched. This is separate from the response above.
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The recommendation and the government responses are verbatim from primary documents. Delivery statements and other bodies' findings are shown in their own words, each with its source. The summary is written by this site and labelled as such. The Index does not paraphrase sources or characterise intent; it records what has been published.