on September 24, 2023, 5:28 pm
Met police request support from army after officers down firearms
Officers in Greater London’s police force have put down weapons in protest at colleague’s murder charge
The Metropolitan police has called on the army to provide counter-terrorism support, amid a protest by firearms officers who downed their weapons after a colleague was charged with murder.
Suella Braverman ordered a review of armed policing on Sunday to calm a growing rebellion in response to the charging on Wednesday of a police officer for the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Chris Kaba, who was unarmed when he was killed.
Sources close to Met firearms officers say 90 to 100 of them had refused to carry out their regular armed duties by Saturday evening, compelling the force to call in backup officers from other forces.
A Met police spokesperson said: “The Ministry of Defence has agreed to a request to provide the Met with counter-terrorism support should it be needed.
“This is a contingency option that would only be used in specific circumstances and where an appropriate policing response was not available. Armed forces personnel will not be used in a routine policing capacity.
“We will keep the need for the support under constant review.”
A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman said: “We have accepted a military aid to the aivil authorities request from the Home Office to provide routine counterterrorism contingency support to the Metropolitan Police, should it be needed.”
The army would only assist with specific tasks the police are unable to perform and would not perform any routine policing work, or have the power of arrest.
...no amount of cajolery, and no attempts at ethical or social seduction, can eradicate from my heart a deep burning hatred for the Tory Party...So far as I am concerned they are lower than vermin.
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