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Latest changes – armed policing

Date Category Guidance Changes
Armed policing Armed deployment

Addition of content to existing sections on:

  • 'Assess threat and risk and develop a working strategy'
  • 'Briefing'
  • 'Briefing' – '5. Keeping a record'
Armed policing Command
  • Amendment to existing section on 'Command roles and functions' – addition of content about separation of responsibilities of different functions.
  • Addition of new section and content with subheading 'Planning meetings', beneath 'Initial command responsibility'.
  • Amendment to existing section on 'Sustained public protection' – addition of content about balancing risk and sufficiency of evidence, and consulting with sentencing guidelines.
  • Amendment to replace the term 'imminent' with 'real and immediate' in the existing section, 'Approval and authorisation of tactical plans'.
  • Amendment to bulleted lists of responsibilities for both strategic firearms commanders (SFCs) and tactical firearms commanders (TFCs), to clarify that 'actions and decisions are recorded in accordance with national minimum standards'.
  • Renamed heading 'Occupational and operational competence within command roles' to 'Selection and accreditation for command and tactical advisor roles', and added content relating to an auditable selection process for SFCs and TFCs. 
  • Addition of new content beneath existing heading 'Re-accreditation and refresher process for commanders and tactical advisors'.
Armed policing Discharge of firearms

Amendments to replace the term 'imminent' with 'real and immediate' – this change affects content under the existing sections, 'Critical shot' and 'Threat to life'.

Armed policing Legal framework

Change to existing section on 'Lawful orders' to replace the term 'order' with 'authorisation'.

Armed policing Post-deployment

Amendment to existing sections on:

  • 'Special leave or suspension from duty' – addition of circumstance where key police witnesses (KPWs) should not contact colleagues in the police service.
  • 'Authorisation' – addition of content around making evidence-based assessments about permitting officers and staff to resume duties.

Addition of new content about 'Body-worn video' beneath existing section on 'Record information'.

Armed policing Use of force, firearms and less lethal weapons
  • Addition of new heading 'Command authorisation to use force'.
  • 'Access to decisive information' moved below new heading 'Command authorisation to use force'.
  • Addition of new heading 'Rifle-initiated entry to save life' and associated new content.
  • Amendment to replace the term 'imminent' with 'real and immediate' in the existing section, 'Influencing factors'.
Armed policing Deployment of authorised firearms officers (AFOs)

Changes made to section 'Authority to deploy AFOs'.

Change made to third sentence of the third paragraph – 'Where practicable, any subsequently authorised armed deployment should be subject to appropriate tactical advice.'

'Should' changed to 'must'.

Armed policing Post-deployment

Additional text to Stage 3 – personal initial accounts and Stage 4 – detailed accounts, statements and interviews, about formal documentation due to possible subsequent legal, conduct or coronial proceedings.

Armed policing Deployment of authorised firearms officers (AFOs)

Destruction of animals – wording change from should to must – 'Where time permits, a firearms tactical advisor must be contacted.'

Armed policing Issue and carriage of firearms

Amended content for 'Standing authority for the issue and carriage of firearms' and new section added below - Protection and Vulnerability Mitigation (PVM) arrangements.

Armed policing Conducted energy devices (Taser)

Updated changes to Taser APP document.

Armed policing Conducted energy devices (Taser)

Broken links to tables amended.

Armed policing Conducted energy devices (Taser)

Updated CED leaflet links.

Armed policing Attenuating energy projectiles

Risk factors section - replaced (SACMILL) with (DOMILL) Effects section - added 'is after 'but it'.

Armed policing Conducted energy devices (Taser)

Medical assessment section replaced (within aftercare section) CED information leaflets section replaced.

Armed policing Armed policing reference material

Amended location of a reference from MLE to Knowledge Hub.

Armed policing Armed deployment

Amend to section on de-escalation of conflict

Armed policing Weapons and equipment

Amends made to ballistic protection section.

Armed policing Armed deployment

Updated content

Armed policing Armed policing reference material

Updated content

Armed policing Armed policing strategic threat and risk assessment (APSTRA)

Updated content and changed title of module.

Armed policing Attenuating energy projectiles

Updated content.

Armed policing Command

Updated content.

Armed policing Deployment of authorised firearms officers (AFOs)

Updated content

Armed policing Discharge of firearms

Updated content

Armed policing Issue and carriage of firearms

Updated content.

Armed policing Legal framework

Updated content.

Armed policing National Police Firearms Training Curriculum (NPFTC)

Updated content.

Armed policing Post-deployment

Updated content.

Armed policing Use of force, firearms and less lethal weapons

Updated content

Armed policing Weapons and equipment

Updated content.

Armed policing Conducted energy devices (Taser)

Reference documents added to support the latest T7 model.

Armed policing Conducted energy devices (Taser)

Updated content to reflect latest model.

Armed policing Post-deployment

Post-deployment replaced with updated version.

Armed policing Conducted energy devices (Taser)

Content for Use of force reporting amended.

Armed policing Conducted energy devices (Taser)

Update IPCC to IOPC and amend link to IOPC guidance.

Armed policing Use of force, firearms and less lethal weapons

Replaced 2013 Home Office Code of Practice with new College 2020 Code of Practice on Armed Policing and Police use of Less Lethal Weapons.

Armed policing Weapons and equipment

Updated wording around percussion grenades.

Armed policing Use of force, firearms and less lethal weapons

Correct link added to pdf of ‘Home Office (2003) Code of Practice on the Police use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons.

Armed policing Use of force, firearms and less lethal weapons

Removed incorrect link to Home Office (2003) Code of Practice on the Police use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons.

Armed policing Use of force, firearms and less lethal weapons

Changes to Discharge of Firearms, and Use of Force, Firearms and less lethal weapons - Includes explanation around critical and conventional shots; terminology change - direction replaced by tasking.

Armed policing Weapons and equipment

Minor amendment wording around weapons and exhibits - formatting.

Armed policing Conducted energy devices (Taser)

Updated information leaflets for use of Taser.

Armed policing Post-deployment

Various change to maintain currency in line with review.

Armed policing Conducted energy devices (Taser)

Update to reflect new authorised model.

Armed policing Conducted energy devices (Taser)

New reference material added - information leaflets.

Armed policing Armed deployment

Update to information on Taser.

Armed policing Conducted energy devices (Taser)

Update to information on Taser.

Armed policing Post-deployment

Who should conduct an organisational learning debrief:

Addition of paragraph concerning sustained public protection, the balance of operational risk associated with surveillance operations and armed intervention. 

Armed policing Armed deployment

Addition of paragraph concerning sustained public protection, the balance of operational risk associated with surveillance operations and armed intervention.

Armed policing Command

Addition of paragraph concerning sustained public protection, the balance of operational risk associated with surveillance operations and armed intervention.

Armed policing Post-deployment

Addition of information on operational debrief; clarification of information on separation.

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