§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable of Merseyside as to the purpose and functions of the tactical aid unit and for the reason for the uniform it adopts while in action; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Douglas HoggThe Merseyside police tactical aid unit comprises police firearms instructors and other officers with experience and expertise in the use of firearms and firearms tactics. The unit provides a small specialist firearms team to deal with operations such as entry and search of premises where the subject is known or believed to be armed; siege situations; armed surveillance in support of the CID; and the destruction of dangerous animals. Members of the unit are routinely engaged on other police duties and are called upon as and when their specialist skills are required. The unit is not limited to a uniformed role but is able to respond in a manner appropriate to the circumstances of a particular operation.