The Army has been deactivated from assisting the Metropolitan Police after numerous officers temporarily stepped away from their firearms duties. This development
occurred following the charging of an officer with the murder of Chris Kaba, a 24-year-old who was shot last September.
Initially, soldiers were placed on standby as armed officers took time over the weekend to consider their position. Subsequently, officers from other police forces were drafted in to fill the void. However, the Metropolitan Police announced on Monday that a sufficient number of armed officers had returned to their duties, rendering external assistance unnecessary for counterterrorism responsibilities.
It was reported earlier that approximately 300 armed officers had voluntarily surrendered their permits, which authorized them to carry firearms over the weekend. The Metropolitan Police has over 2,500 armed officers within its ranks.
The Ministry of Defence received a request from the Home Office on Sunday, known as Military Aid to the Civil Authorities, to provide routine counterterrorism contingency support to the Metropolitan Police if required.
The concerns of armed officers arose from the Crown Prosecution Service's decision to charge officer NX121 with the murder of Chris Kaba. Senior officers within the Metropolitan Police have been engaging in ongoing discussions to address these concerns and support staff in comprehending their implications.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has endorsed a review initiated by the home secretary to examine guidelines related to armed policing. The review is expected to conclude by the end of the year and will assess the use of legal powers by firearms officers.
While acknowledging the challenging role of firearms officers in making life-or-death decisions, Prime Minister Sunak stressed the importance of clarity and certainty when exercising their legal powers.
Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley emphasized that officers require adequate legal protection to carry out their duties effectively while maintaining public safety. At the same time, he underscored the need for swift action when officers act improperly.
Some officers expressed concerns over facing prolonged legal proceedings even if they adhere to prescribed tactics and training. However, these actions were not characterized as a coordinated protest but rather as individual officers who harbor concerns about the risks to themselves and their families associated with their duties.
Nick Aldworth, a former national counterterrorism coordinator, characterized the officers' actions as quasi-industrial protest despite the legal restrictions on police officers going on strike. He argued that officers' decisions to step back from their duties constituted a form of industrial action.
The Metropolitan Police clarified that armed forces personnel would not have been employed for routine policing but could have been called upon in the event of a terror attack. Additional officers from neighboring police forces have been deployed since Saturday evening to compensate for the temporary absence of armed officers.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, expressed confidence in the city's security and maintained close communication with the Met commissioner. The National Police Chiefs' Council highlighted the routine use of mutual aid across the country to ensure public safety.
Home Office figures revealed that between March 2022 and March 2023, there were 18,395 firearms operations in England and Wales, with the Metropolitan Police accounting for 20% of these operations. During that period, there were only 10 incidents across England and Wales in which an officer discharged their firearm at a person.
Chris Kaba tragically lost his life on September 5, 2022, when he was fatally shot by a Met Police officer in Streatham, South London. His death led to a series of protests. Photo by Stanislav Kozlovskiy, Wikimedia commons.