Examine individual changes

'Hello jkfsdljkdfkj{{Law enforcement in the United Kingdom}} In the [[United Kingdom]], the majority of [[police officer]]s do not carry firearms, except in special circumstances. This originates from the formation of the [[Metropolitan Police Service]] in the 19th century, when police were not armed, partly to counter public fears and objections concerning armed enforcers as this had been previously seen due to the [[British Army]] maintaining order when needed. The arming of police in the United Kingdom is a perennial topic of debate. Most officers are instead issued with other items for personal defence, such as [[Speedcuffs]], [[Club (law enforcement)|Extendable "ASP" Baton]], and incapacitant sprays such as [[PAVA spray|PAVA]] or [[CS spray]]. While not a [[firearm]], CS spray is subject to some of the same rules and regulations as a projectile firing firearm under Section 5 (b) of the [[Firearms Act 1968]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statutelaw.gov.uk/content.aspx?LegType=All+Legislation&title=firearms+act&searchEnacted=0&extentMatchOnly=0&confersPower=0&blanketAmendment=0&sortAlpha=0&TYPE=QS&PageNumber=1&NavFrom=0&parentActiveTextDocId=1628564&ActiveTextDocId=1628590&filesize=32116 |title=S.5 Firearms Act 1968 |publisher=Statutelaw.gov.uk |date= |accessdate=2010-01-05}}</ref> The [[Ministry of Defence Police]], [[Civil Nuclear Constabulary]] and [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] (formerly the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]]) are issued firearms as a matter of routine. Every force can also call upon the Force [[Firearms unit|Firearms Units]], [[Armed Response Vehicle]], and certain specialist units of the Metropolitan Police are routinely armed. In the year 2007-08, there were 6,780 [[Authorised Firearms Officer]]s, 21,181 police operations in which firearms were authorised throughout [[England and Wales]] and 7 incidents where conventional firearms were used.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/non-personal-data/police/police-firearms-use-2007-2008?view=Standard&pubID=807224 | title = Statistics on the police use of firearms in England and Wales 2007/08 | accessdate = 2010-07-07 | date = 2010-05-07 | publisher = Home Office}}</ref> Since 2004, Police forces have increasingly been deploying [[Tasers]], for use against armed assailants, by Authorised Firearms Officers. Tasers are considered by the authorities to be a less lethal alternative to firearms, although [[Amnesty International]] links their use to 70 deaths in the US and Canada.<ref>{{Cite news | title = More UK police to get stun guns | publisher = [[BBC News]] | date = 2007-05-16 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6660283.stm | accessdate = 2011-01-10}}</ref> == History == Police use of firearms in the [[United Kingdom]] has been a slow, controversial<ref name="waldren">{{cite book |title= Armed Police, The Police Use of Firearms since 1945 |last=Waldren |first=Michael J. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 2007 |publisher= Sutton |location= England |isbn= 0750946377 |page= 224}}</ref> and developing process as senior officers wanted their forces to still have the "British Bobby" or [[Dixon of Dock Green]] effect on the community.<ref name="waldren" /> During the [[Second World War]], [[firearm]]s were only carried while protecting [[10 Downing Street]] and the [[Royal Family]], but police were given many firearms in case of invasion.<ref name="waldren" /> They were never taken on general patrol, partly because a revolver was usually issued without a holster,<ref name="waldren" /> as holsters were in short supply because of the war.<ref name="waldren">{{cite book |title= Armed Police, The Police Use of Firearms since 1945 |last=Waldren |first=Michael J. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 2007 |publisher= Sutton |location= England |isbn= 0750946377 |page= 4}}</ref> Training for the [[Webley & Scott]] [[Revolver]]s usually consisted of firing six shots and to pass, it was required that three shots had to be on target although loading of the actual weapon was not taught.<ref name="waldren" /> In 1948, after the Second World War Concerns were aired by the [[Home Office]] of the police forces role of another war or nuclear attack,<ref name="waldren">{{cite book |title= Armed Police, The Police Use of Firearms since 1945 |last=Waldren |first=Michael J. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 2007 |publisher= Sutton |location= England |isbn= 0750946377 |page= 10}}</ref> to combat this it was decided that some of the forces would be loaned [[Sten Gun]]s by the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] and a number of [[Lee Enfield]] No4 Mk 2s. These, along with [[revolver]]s and [[ammunition]], were kept in secret depots around the United Kingdom so every force had the weapons close and could get access to them when and if the time should come.<ref name="waldren">{{cite book |title= Armed Police, The Police Use of Firearms since 1945 |last=Waldren |first=Michael J. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 2007 |publisher= Sutton |location= England |isbn= 0750946377 |page= 11}}</ref> Historically, officers on night patrols in some [[London]] divisions were frequently armed with [[Webley & Scott|Webley]] [[revolver]]s. These were introduced following the [[murder]] of two officers in 1884, although individual officers were able to choose whether to carry the weapons. Armed police were rare by the turn of the century, and were retired formally in July 1936. Although, after the [[Sidney Street Siege|Battle of Stepney]] in 1911, Webley [[semi-automatic self-loading pistol|semi-automatics]] were issued to officers. From the 1936 date on, firearms could only be issued by a [[Sergeant]] with good reason, and only then to officers who had been trained in their usage. The issue of routine arming was raised after the 1952 [[Derek Bentley]] case, in which a [[Constable]] was shot dead and a [[Sergeant]] severely wounded, and again after the 1966 [[Massacre of Braybrook Street]], in which three London officers were killed. As a result, around 17% of officers in [[London]] became authorised to carry firearms. After the deaths of a number of members of the public in the 1980s fired upon by police, control was considerably tightened, many officers had their firearm authorisation revoked, and training for the remainder was greatly improved. As of 2005, around seven per cent of officers in London are trained in the use of firearms. Firearms are also only issued to an officer under strict guidelines.<ref>[http://www.westmercia.police.uk/assets/_files/documents/sep_09/wmp__1252486651_Manual_of_Guidance_on_the_Mana.pdf ACPO Manual of Guidance on the Management, Command and Deployment of Armed Officers]</ref> In order to allow armed officers to respond rapidly to an incident, most forces have patrolling [[Armed Response Vehicle]]s (ARVs). ARVs were modelled on the Instant Response Cars introduced by the [[West Yorkshire Police]] in 1976, and were first introduced in London in 1991, with 132 armed deployments being made that year. Although largely attributable to a significant increase in the use of imitation firearms and air weapons,<ref name="hosb0207">{{cite journal|url=http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs07/hosb0207.pdf|title=Home Office Statistical Bulletin|format=PDF|date=25 January 2007|page=43}}</ref> the overall increase in firearms crime between 1998/99 and 2002/03<ref name="hosb0207"/> (it has been decreasing since 2003/04, although use of imitations continued to rise)<ref name="hosb0207"/> has kept this issue in the spotlight. In October 2000, [[Nottinghamshire Police]] introduced regular armed patrols to the St Ann's and Meadows estates in [[Nottingham]], in response to fourteen drug-related shootings in the two areas in the previous year.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/986835.stm|title=Guns for bobbies on the beat|date=23 October 2000|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> Although the measure was not intended to be permanent, patrols were stepped up in the autumn of 2001 after further shootings,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1871230.stm|title='Arm beat officers' says police chief|date=13 March 2002|publisher=BBC News}}</ref> after which the firearms crime declined dramatically.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/nottinghamshire/3733384.stm BBC News: Community saddened and fearful, 11 October 2004]</ref> As of September 2004, all forces in England and Wales have access to [[taser]]s, but they may only be used by [[Authorised Firearms Officer]]s (AFO's) and specially trained units. The [[Police Federation of England and Wales|Police Federation]] have since called for all officers to be issued with tasers, with some public support.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polfed.org/we_stand_F0AE5868581B4E239F2FEDFC4D976359.asp|title=Police Federation of England & Wales}}</ref> In 2010, following the serious injury of an unarmed officer in a knife attack, the chairman of the [[Police Memorial Trust]], [[Michael Winner]] stated that he had put up memorials to 44 officers and that he believed, "It is almost certain that at least 38 of those <nowiki>[Police Officers]</nowiki> would be alive had they been armed".<ref name="BBCpmt">{{cite news|title=Ealing police knife attacks suspect questioned|date=16 December 2010|publisher=[[BBC]]|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-12005886}}</ref> In response, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation Peter Smyth said, "A lot of police officers don't want to be armed. We don't want a call to arms, I don't think that's necessary."<ref>[http://www.polfed.org/ezine_161210.html Police Federation]</ref> [[Police Federation of England and Wales|Police Federation]] surveys have continued to show police officers' considerable resistance to routine arming. In the Federation's most recent (2006) Officer/Arming survey, 82% of respondents were against the routine arming of police, although 43% supported an increase in the number of officers trained and authorised to use firearms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.polfed.org/federationpolicy/firearms.asp|title=Firearms and the Police: (Statement by the Police Federation on overwhelming opposition of police to regular arming of officers on duty}}</ref> == Legal status == The usage of firearms by the police is covered by statute (such as the [[Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984]] and [[Human Rights Act 1998]]), policy (such as the [[Home Office]] ''Code of Practice on Police use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons'' and the [[Association of Chief Police Officers|ACPO]] ''Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms'') and [[common law]]. AFOs{{Clarify|date=August 2011}} may only carry firearms when authorised by an "appropriate authorising officer".<ref>[http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/firearms.pdf ACPO (2003), ''Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms'', 3.2.1]</ref> The appropriate authorising officer must be of the rank of [[Inspector]] or higher.<ref>[http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/firearms.pdf ACPO (2003), ''Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms'', 3.6.6]</ref> When working at [[airport]]s, nuclear sites, on Protection Duties and deployed in [[Armed Response Vehicle]]s in certain areas, 'Standing Authority' is granted to carry personal [[side arms|sidearms]].<ref>[http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/firearms.pdf ACPO (2003), ''Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms'', 3.8]</ref> All members of the [[Police Service of Northern Ireland]] have authority to carry a personal issue handgun as a matter of routine.<ref>[http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/firearms.pdf ACPO (2003), ''Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms'', 3.8.5]</ref> In all forces, usage of other weapons such as [[Semi-automatic firearm|semi-automatic carbine]]s requires further training and authorisation. Semi-automatic carbines are stored in a locked armoury inside Armed Response Vehicles. Equipping of semi-automatic carbines rests on a judgment of the AFO{{Clarify|date=August 2011}}.<ref name="waldren">{{cite book |title= Armed Police, The Police Use of Firearms since 1945 |last=Waldren |first=Michael J. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 2007 |publisher= Sutton |location= England |isbn= 978-0-7509-4637-7 |pages= 224}}</ref> United Kingdom law allows the use of "reasonable force" in order to make an arrest or prevent a crime<ref>[[Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984]], Section 117 or Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989, Article 88</ref><ref>[[Criminal Law Act 1967]], Section 3 or Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967, Section 3</ref> or to defend one's self.<ref>Common Law, as cited in [http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/firearms.pdf ACPO (2003), ''Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms'', 2.3.4]</ref> However, if the force used is fatal, then the [[European Convention of Human Rights]] only allows "the use of force which is no more than absolutely necessary".<ref>[http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/firearms.pdf ACPO (2003), ''Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms'', 2.3.7]</ref> Firearms officers may therefore only discharge their weapons "to stop an imminent threat to life".<ref>[http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/firearms.pdf ACPO (2003), ''Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms'', 5.6.1]</ref> ACPO policy states that "use" of a firearm includes both pointing it at a person and discharging it (whether [[accidental discharge|accidentally]], [[negligent discharge|negligently]] or on purpose).<ref>[http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/firearms.pdf ACPO (2003), ''Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms'' 3.2.4]</ref> As with all use of force in England and Wales, the onus is on the individual officer to justify their actions in court.<ref>[http://www.acpo.police.uk/asp/policies/Data/firearms.pdf ACPO (2003), ''Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms'' Chapter 3.3.1]</ref> == Firearms used == {{Main|List of UK police firearms}} Different police forces use a variety of firearms. Although, for forces in England and Wales, guidance is provided from [[ACPO]] and the [[Home Office]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politics.co.uk/issue-briefs/public-services/police/police-arms-and-weaponry/police-arms-and-weaponry-$366696.htm|title=Police Arms and Weaponry|quote=All the forces in the UK and Wales are also issued with the 'Firearms Guidance to Police' manual, a lengthy document detailing the legal regulation of firearms in the UK and covers the vast range of domestic legislation and international guidance on firearms use. Codes of practice are also issued by the Home Office providing comprehensive guidance on the policy and use of firearms and less lethal weapons by police.}}</ref> decisions on what weapons will be employed by an individual force largely rest with the Chief Constable. == Notable incidents == {{Cleanup-laundry|section|date=January 2010}} {{seealso|List of people killed by law enforcement officers in the United Kingdom}} According to an October 2005 article in ''[[The Independent]]'', in the preceding 12 years, 30 people had been shot dead by police.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/legal/article321142.ece|title=Shot dead by police 30. Officers convicted 0|publisher=The Independent|date=21 October 2005|author=Robert Verkaik|coauthors=Jason Bennetto | location=London}}</ref> The following are examples of shootings by British police officers. This figure presumably excludes those killed in [[Northern Ireland]]. During [[The Troubles]] in Northern Ireland, the [[Royal Ulster Constabulary]] (RUC) killed 30 civilians, 17 members of [[Irish republicanism|Irish republican]] [[paramilitaries]] and 4 members of [[Ulster loyalism|loyalist]] paramilitaries.<ref>[http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/crosstabs.html ''Sutton Index of Deaths''], [[Conflict Archive on the Internet]] (CAIN) - choose "Organisation" as 1st variable and "Status summary" as 2nd variable</ref> === Fatal incidents === :''Note: the following does not include killings by police in Northern Ireland.'' * In June 1980, hostage Gail Kinchin and her unborn baby were killed in crossfire between West Midlands officers and her boyfriend. * On 24 August 1985 John Shorthouse aged 5 was shot dead in a police raid on his home in Birmingham. The incident produced hostility towards the police over two days after John's death when a policewoman was dragged from her patrol car and beaten by youths. Following the Shorthouse case, West Midlands police abandoned its practice of training rank-and-file officers for firearms duties and formed a specialist squad.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/24/newsid_2535000/2535421.stm|title=1985: Sleeping boy killed in police raid|publisher=BBC News|date=August 24, 1985}}</ref> * On 15 January 1998 [[James Ashley]], 39, was shot and killed by [[List of police forces in the United Kingdom#England|Sussex Police]] while naked and unarmed during a drugs raid at his flat. The officer who fired the shots was cleared of any wrongdoing after a trial at the Old Bailey.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ashley shot naked and unarmed|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3264957.stm|date=12 November 2003}}</ref> * In June 1999 Derek Bateman, 47, of Surrey was shot by a single bullet through the heart after his girlfriend went to a neighbour's house and telephoned the police, telling them he was armed and had been threatening to shoot her. It was later determined that the weapon he had brandished at the police was an air pistol.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2709929.stm|title='My father didn't have to die'|date=30 January 2003|publisher=BBC News|author=Tom Geoghegan}}</ref> * On 22 September 1999 [[Harry Stanley]], a painter and decorator, born in [[Bellshill]] near [[Glasgow]], was walking home when he was shot dead by two Metropolitan Police officers following an erroneous report that he was carrying a [[sawed-off shotgun|sawn-off shotgun]] in a plastic bag. The officers challenged Mr Stanley from behind. As he turned to face them they shot him dead at a distance of 5 metres. It later emerged that the plastic bag actually contained a broken table leg that Stanley's brother had just fixed for him. Following numerous enquiries (in November 2004 a jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing) both officers were exonerated after 6 years of court cases and inquiries. It was found that neither officer was liable for criminal charges nor would face any disciplinary sanctions. However, the report did make notable recommendations to the police on the post-incident procedure to be followed after a shooting and about challenging members of the public from behind.<ref>{{cite news|title=Shot man 'recovering from cancer'|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/3752656.stm|date=18 October 2004}}</ref> * On 12 July 2001 Mr Andrew Kernan, 37, a gardener from Wavertree in Liverpool was shot dead in the street by the second of two shots fired by officers of the Merseyside Police Force. The officers had been called to the scene by the victim's mother, Marie Kernan, who had also requested a psychiatric medical team attend her home because her schizophrenic son, Andrew Kernan, was being aggressive. At least four police officers from the Merseyside force went to Mrs Kernan's flat but Andrew Kernan ran into the street, dressed in his pyjamas, wielding a [[Katana]]. Mr Kernan slashed off the wing mirror of one of the police cars. After negotiating with him for 25 minutes and using CS gas, officers fired two shots. The second bullet hit Mr Kernan in the chest and he died on the way to hospital. In the case of Andrew Kernan, the Chief Constable of Merseyside Police Norman Bettison took the unusual step of sending a hand-written letter to Marie Kernan with his apologies. The then Home Secretary David Blunkett ordered a review of how armed police were used, and the dead man's mother, Marie Kernan, 59, commented at the time: "You don't kill somebody with a mental illness. I demand justice for Andrew and won't rest until I get an answer." However, a verdict of lawful killing was returned by the jury at Liverpool District Coroner's Court on 9 December 2004, and the Coroner, Andre Rebello, praised the actions of the officers at the scene. The [[Independent Police Complaints Authority|IPCA]] Commissioner for the North West, Mike Franklin, stated that “the officers involved in this case were presented with a rapidly evolving scenario... Firearms officers at the scene acted bravely and the investigation has found no evidence that their actions fell below that required or expected of them." <ref>{{cite news|title=IPCC Concludes Andrew Kernan Case|publisher=[[Independent Police Complaints Authority|IPCA]]|url=http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/pr220905_kernan.htm|date=22 September 2005}}</ref> * On 22 July 2005, [[Jean Charles de Menezes]], a [[Brazil]]ian national living in [[London]], was shot dead by unnamed [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan Police]] officers on board an [[London Underground|Underground train]] at [[Stockwell tube station]], in the belief he was a [[suicide bomber]]. He was shot in the back of the head 7 times. Initially, police claimed incorrectly that he was wearing bulky clothing and that he had vaulted the ticket barriers running from police when challenged, but did not modify their statement until the correct information was leaked to the press. They later issued an apology, saying that they had mistaken him for a suspect in the [[21 July 2005 London bombings|previous day's failed bombings]] and acknowledging that de Menezes in fact had no explosives and was unconnected with the attempted bombings. Following an investigation by the [[Independent Police Complaints Commission]] (IPCC), the [[Crown Prosecution Service]] announced on 17 July 2006, that no charges would be brought against any individual officers in relation to the death of Jean Charles. [[Ian Blair|Sir Ian Blair]], [[Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis|Commissioner]] of the [[Metropolitan Police Service|Metropolitan Police]] when the shooting occurred will, however, face charges under [[Occupational safety and health|Health and Safety]] legislation from his professional&nbsp;— rather than personal&nbsp;— capacity. The family of Jean Charles has called on the government to open a public inquiry into the shooting.<ref>{{cite news | title = Doubt over shoot-to-kill policy | publisher = The Independent | date = 21 August 2005 | url = http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/article307307.ece | location=London}}</ref> * In June 2007 Anne Sanderson was shot dead by an armed officer in Sevenoaks, Kent after being seen with what was later identified as a [[BB gun|ball bearing gun]], which she refused to relinquish when challenged by police. It was the first fatal shooting of a woman by UK Police in 27 years (and first time ever that the shooting was deliberate).<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/jun/12/ukcrime.ukguns ''The Guardian'': Police shoot dead woman waving gun at officers in car park]</ref> A month previously police officers had found notes in Sanderson's car which had suicidal connotations, but no action was taken. A subsequent IPCC investigation noted this, as well as other procedural issues in the investigation, but stated that they "did not have a negative impact on the incident's outcome". In addition, the report said that officers involved "performed their duties conscientiously and diligently" and that an inquest jury returned a verdict of lawful killing.<ref>[http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/ann_sanderson_commissioner_report_final.pdf IPCC final report]</ref> * On August 4, 2011, [[death of Mark Duggan|Mark Duggan]] was shot dead by the MPS, sparking [[2011 England riots|massive riots across London]]. Four officers are being investigated in the incident, although it is speculated that they will be cleared of any criminal charges.<ref>http://www.channel4.com/news/four-officers-under-investigation-for-duggan-shooting</ref> === Non-fatal incidents === :''Note: the following does not include incidents in Northern Ireland.'' * On 17 January 1983 [[Stephen Waldorf shooting|Stephen Waldorf]] was shot by police hunting David Martin, who absconded from custody at Marlborough Street magistrates' court where he was due to face a charge of attempting to murder a police officer. Waldorf was critically injured in a police ambush in a west London street after he was mistaken for Martin. He was shot five times, and then [[Pistol-whipping|pistol whipped]] by an officer who had attempted to shoot him in the head, but had already used all his ammunition. Waldorf made a full recovery and eventually received compensation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Man shot by police hunting David Martin|publisher=BBC News|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/14/newsid_2530000/2530649.stm|date=14 January 1983}}</ref> * On 28 September 1985 Cherry Groce, a mother-of-six, was shot and paralysed by officers looking for her son. The shooting sparked [[1985 Brixton riot|riots]] in [[Brixton]]. The officer involved was cleared of all criminal charges.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/january/15/newsid_2530000/2530537.stm|title=1987: Officer cleared in Groce shooting case|publisher=BBC News|date=January 15, 1987}}</ref> * In July 2005, West Yorkshire police [[taser]]ed a man in [[Hypoglycemia|hypoglycaemic shock]], believing that he was a potential security threat.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7096456.stm|title=Terror police 'shot' man in coma]|publisher=BBC News|date=15 November 2007}}</ref> * On 2 June 2006, [[2 June 2006 London terror raid|two family homes were raided in an operation involving 250 police]] in east London. One man, Abdul Kahar, was shot in the shoulder by police during the raid, but was later released without charge. The raid was based on faulty intelligence. == "Shoot to kill" policy == The national media has criticised the so-called "shoot to kill" policy apparently adopted by police forces. Police firearms training actually teaches the use and discharge of firearms to "remove the threat". Following the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]] new guidelines were developed for identifying, confronting, and dealing forcefully with terrorist suspects. These guidelines were given the [[code name]] "[[Operation Kratos]]". Based in part on advice from the security forces of [[Israel]] and [[Sri Lanka]]—two countries with experience of suicide bombings—Operation Kratos guidelines allegedly state that the head or lower limbs should be aimed at when a suspected suicide bomber appears to have no intention of surrendering. This is contrary to the usual practice of aiming at the [[torso]], which presents the biggest target, as a hit to the torso may detonate an explosive belt. Sir Ian Blair appeared on television on 24 July 2005 to accept responsibility for the error on the part of the Metropolitan Police in shooting [[Jean Charles de Menezes]], mistakenly identified as a suicide bomber three days previously, and to acknowledge and defend the policy, saying that "There is no point in shooting at someone's chest because that is where the bomb is likely to be. There is no point in shooting anywhere else if they fall down and detonate it." == See also == * [[Anti-terrorist policies of the Metropolitan police]] * [[Shoot-to-kill policy in Northern Ireland]] == References == {{reflist|3}} == External links == {{wikinewshas|articles covering the shooting| *[[n:Armed police shoot man dead on London Underground|Armed police shoot man dead on London Underground]] *[[n:Man shot on London Underground unconnected to bombing, says Scotland Yard|Man shot on London Underground unconnected to bombing, says Scotland Yard]] *[[n:Leaked documents reveal killed Brazilian was not acting suspiciously|Leaked documents reveal killed Brazilian was not acting suspiciously]] *[[n:Daily Mail: Scotland Yard offered Menezes family US$1m|Daily Mail: Scotland Yard offered Menezes family US$1m]] }} * {{cite web | url = http://www.sussex.police.uk/features/specialistUnits/firearms.asp | work = Specialist Units | title = Tactical Firearms Unit | publisher = Sussex Police | accessdate = 2010-01-05 }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Police Use Of Firearms In The United Kingdom}} [[Category:Law enforcement in the United Kingdom]]'