Wynn, Stephen A History of Police Firearms Units

The role of police officers with firearms is perhaps one of the most thankless jobs that exists in a non-military environment. Figures from the Home Office for the period March 2022 to March 2023 show that there were 6,038 police officers authorised to use firearms across England and Wales, out of a total of 149,572 officers the culmination of a four-year decline in the number of firearms officers from a peak of 6,621 in March 2019. Being a firearms officer carries prestige in policing, although it is not entirely clear why this is the case, especially when you consider the real risk of either being shot, shooting someone and being charged with murder, or not shooting someone, which could result in the death of a colleague or a member of the public. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the use of firearms by the police was far removed from what it is today. Nominated officers were allowed to draw their firearms as needed and completed only a few shooting exercises throughout the year, with little or no consideration given to tactical approaches for specific scenarios. However, the change in senior officers' attitudes towards firearms can be traced back to the murder of three Metropolitan Police officers by two armed criminals near Wormwood Scrubs Prison in west London in August 1966. This book deals with the history of the police firearms units that were formed immediately after the 1966 murders and their subsequent development, the improvement of the selection of suitable officers and the weapons and equipment used, and the training of officers who volunteer for this extremely dangerous and stressful task.