THERE is an upward trend in the number of firearms officers.<\/p>\n
Home Office Stats have revealed that there are now 6,459 armed officers in England and Wales, compared to 6,012 in 2009.<\/p>\n
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Meanwhile, the number of police\u00a0firearms\u00a0operations have gone up by 19 per cent since 2010\/11 to 18,746.<\/p>\n
Twelve incidents of firearms being discharged where also recorded in 2017 \u2013 two more than last year, meaning less than 1% of armed deployments end in weapons being fired.<\/p>\n
Those figures include the London Bridge attack during which three terrorists were shot dead.<\/p>\n
National Police Chiefs\u2019 Council Lead on Armed Policing Simon Chesterman said the figures backed up armed officers\u2019 professionalism.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is testament to their professionalism that only 0.06 per cent of armed deployments end with a firearm actually being discharged,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese officers are trained first and foremost to try and resolve incidents without firing a shot.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe threat from international terrorism and increases in violent crime have both contributed to an increase in the numbers of armed deployments.<\/p>\n
\u201cA significant proportion of these will be where armed officers have been deployed as a contingency, for example at public events where there are large crowds in order to keep people safe,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
London saw more armed officers take to the streets than any other force in the last year, while the highest growth in firearms operations came in West Mercia, which recorded a 53% increase in incidents from 2016.<\/p>\n
The Home Office report stated that the \u2018use of firearms by the police should always be a last resort, considered only where there is a serious risk to public or police safety.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, where an operational need arises, specialist armed officers should be available to be deployed.\u201d<\/p>\n
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