Firearms review delay is an ‘unstable situation’

FIREARMS officers are still not being protected by Government legislation – a ‘potentially unstable’ situation according to Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor.

A promised review into post incident investigations appears to have put on the back-burner when it should have been completed 30 months ago.

At the moment, firearms officers could be subject to lengthy enquiries and even IOPC investigations if they have to use their weapons in the line of duty.

Baroness Susan Williams told the House of Lords that the Government is ‘still looking’ at the review but wants officers to ‘feel confident’ they can still do their jobs.

“It’s an unstable situation and I wonder whether the review has even taken place let alone been written,” said Steve.

“Its not unreasonable for us to think that given we’ve had nothing about it released and there’s no evidence to suggest the Government are doing what they said they would do.

“We want to see it, it’s taken too long already.”

“Without the report it would only take one incident, one spark to make the world of firearms unstable and uncertain.

“We don’t need that for officers who carry firearms – we need to see the review very swiftly.”

For more on this visit; https://www.policeoracle.com/news/uniformed_operations/2018/Jun/05/firearms-legal-protection-review-has-now-taken-30-months_97950.html