HC Deb 06 March 1991 vol 187 cc377-8

3. Firearms must always be made safe. No live rounds are to be carried in the breech of a firearm and automatic weapons are not to be made ready for firing unless they are about to be fired or an express order to that effect has been given by a superior officer.

4. Firearms shall not be used against a person except in the following circumstances—

  1. (1) in self-defence or defence of others against the imminent threat of death or serious injury;
  2. (2) to prevent the commission of a particularly serious crime involving a grave threat to life;
  3. (3) to effect the arrest of a person immediately presenting such a threat.
In all these cases firearms must not be used unless there is no other way to prevent the danger and it is strictly unavoidable to protect life.

5. The following are examples of acts endangering life, depending always on the particular circumstances—

  1. (1) firing or being about to fire a weapon;
  2. (2) planting, detonating or throwing an explosive device.

6. In cases where the use of firearms is unavoidable the following rules must be observed—

  1. (1) only aimed shots are to be fired;
  2. (2) no more rounds than are necessary to prevent the danger referred to in rule 4 above are to be fired;
  3. (3) all reasonable precautions are to be taken not to injure anyone other than the person presenting that danger.

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