by The Metropolitan Police chief welcomed the details of a Home Office review into armed policing as Suella Braverman said she wanted officers and the public to have “confidence” in legal processes.
The review, announced last month, comes after several Metropolitan Police officers resigned from firearms duties after an officer was charged with the murder of Chris Kaba, who died after being shot through the windscreen of an Audi car.
New details of the scope of the review, published on Tuesday, said it would examine “whether existing law underpinning the use of force, including self-defense, provides adequate protection for police officers in the performance of their duties, particularly in relation to firearms officers ». .
The Home Office said it will also look at whether the law currently offers “adequate protection for police driving”.
It will also consider whether the legal tests for the use of force in self-defense should be “clarified or changed” in misconduct proceedings and inquests, while also considering whether the “criminal standard of proof for a finding of unlawful killing should be used for inquests and related research”.
It will also look at whether the current system provides ‘adequate rights' for members of the public.
Other areas to be covered by the review include post-incident investigations and procedures, and the timeliness and clarity of their communication.
The review aims to provide findings to the Home Secretary by the end of the year.
Meetings Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley welcomed the publication of the review's terms of reference.
In a statement posted on social media, he said: “The scope of this review reflects the reality officers face when pursuing and apprehending criminals.
“They welcome accountability that is fast, fair, competent and recognize the business decisions they must make based on the training they have received. Unfortunately, the current system often fails all of these tests.
“A system that discourages our brave officers from pursuing criminals is failing victims. We need to address the imbalances in this area of ​​law that is long overdue for reform and build a system that enables the police and the police.
The Home Office is expected to work with the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General's office on the review.
It will not review ongoing investigations or live legal proceedings.
Ms Braverman said: “We rely on our brave police officers to put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe.
“It's one of the toughest jobs, relying on officers to make split-second life or death decisions, and we should never take that for granted.
“That is why I have called for this review to ensure that the legal frameworks under which the police operate are trusted by both officers and members of the public.”
