Met chief takes over armed police negotiations
Sir John Stevens, the head of the Metropolitan Police, has announced that he is to personally intervene in negotiations with armed police officers in London.
About 20 officers have handed in their tickets allowing them to bear firearms in protest at the suspension of two fellow officers. A further 120 officers have signed a declaration of their support for the officers and there are fears that the protest could spread, decimating the London armed response unit.
Pc Kevin Fagan and Insp Neil Sharman were suspended on Friday after a second inquest into the death of Harry Stanley in 1999 ruled that he had been unlawfully killed.
Mr Stanley had been shot by the two officers after emerging from a pub, following a tip-off that he was Irish and carrying a sawn-off shotgun. He later turned out to be carrying a table leg. The officers said they believed their lives were in danger.
The first inquest returned an open verdict, but this was overturned by the High Court, and the second inquest’s verdict could mean the officers face prison sentences.
Speaking at a press conference in London, Sir John confirmed that there had been a “large number” of officers handing in their tickets, saying: “They are not prepared to carry guns at the present time bearing in mind the decision that was made in the coroners court concerning the Stanley case.”
He added that: “I have personally taken over the negotiations with these officers we are going to try and resolve this as quickly as possible.
“It is obvious, is it not?, that we need these armed officers in the present circumstances in London”.
“I want to make it absolutely clear that I have got every sympathy for officers they have to make split decisions in life threatening situations.
“A classic example of that was at Buckingham Palace where if it hadn’t been for the cool calm collected response of police officers at Buckingham Palace someone could have been shot dead,” he said.
But Sir John criticised the present law governing firearms officers, saying: “I believe the law as it stands at the moment is far from ideal” though he added: “I think of course we cannot ignore the jury’s verdict; that cannot be ignored that’s the law of the land as it stands.”
Speaking at the same press conference, Ken Livingstone, the Mayor of London, said he hoped the situation could be resolved, saying: “I would hope the officers will carry on doing their work whilst we go through the process and the legal process that we are now locked in to following the coroners decision.”
Scotland Yard has insisted that armed police cover currently remains unaffected.
The issue has led to cross party concern. Richard Barnes, London Assembly Conservative spokesman on policing said “Immediate measures need to be taken by senior officers to reassure the firearms officers that they have their full support. They are vital to securing London against its most serious threats and we need them back on the front line as soon as possible. Firearms officers also put their lives on the line day in day out to keeping Londoners safe. They must know that when they draw their firearm they have the full support of their colleagues and the public.”
“While we respect the jury’s verdict in the Harry Stanley case, in the longer term senior police officers from the Met and the Association of Chief Police Officers need to press the Government to look again at the law regarding the use of police firearms so that officers who do use their firearms responsibly in the line of duty receive a greater level of support from the law than they currently receive.”
