§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police forces have set up special firearms units; and if he will make a statement on this practice.
§ Mr. MayhewAll police forces have a proportion of officers especially trained in the use of firearms. Many have specialist units consisting of officers who have additional training, including the tactical use of weapons, in handling major incidents where such skills are required.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of policemen receive weapons training; and what forms this takes.
§ Mr. MayhewIt is for individual chief officers of police to decide how many police officers should be trained in the use of firearms and what form this training should take. Figures are not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give details of those incidents in which police guns have been fired in each year from 1976, to date.
§ Mr. MayhewThe details are as follows:
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Year and Force Injuries/Deaths 1976 — Nil 1977 Derbyshire Constabulary 1 death Metropolitan Police — Metropolitan Police — Hampshire 1 injury 1978 Metropolitan Police 1 death Metropolitan Police — Cumbria Constabulary 1 death
Year and Force Injuries/Deaths 1979 Essex Police 1 death West Midlands Police — Metropolitan Police — 1980 West Midlands Police 1 death West Mercia Constabulary 1 injury West Yorshire Police 1 injury Metropolitan Police 1 injury (police officer) Metropolitan Police 1 injury Metropolitan Police — Metropolitan Police 1 injury Metropolitan Police — Metropolitan Police — In additon, firearms were used on a number of occasions to destroy injured or dangerous animals.
§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of policemen on average takes out arms daily.
§ Mr. MayhewFigures are not held centrally of the number of policemen who are issued with firearms and this information could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.