Cecily Zamora
In the United States, all law enforcement officers carry firearms, and the country is home to 40% of the world's firearms. In England, police officers do not routinely carry firearms, and only 10% of police in London are armed. The use of firearms by police forces varies widely across the world, due to differences in gun use policy, civilian firearm laws, and recording of police activity. In England, the use of firearms by police is covered by statute, policy, and common law. The country has a history of officers not being armed, which originates from the formation of the Metropolitan Police Service in the 19th century and is partly due to public fears and objections to armed enforcers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of police in London carrying guns | Less than 10% |
| Use of firearms by police in England and Wales covered by | Statute, policy, and common law |
| Who can authorise the use of firearms by police in England and Wales | Authorising officer of the rank of Inspector or higher |
| When is 'Standing Authority' granted to carry personal sidearms | When working at airports, nuclear sites, on Protection Duties, and in Armed Response Vehicles in certain areas |
| Who has the authority to carry a personal issue handgun as a matter of routine, both on and off duty | All members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland |
| Use of other weapons such as semi-automatic carbines | Requires further training and authorisation |
| Use of Tasers approved in England and Wales | 2008 |
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What You'll Learn
US law enforcement and their use of firearms as a first resort
The issue of US law enforcement and their use of firearms as a first resort is a complex and highly debated topic. In a country where there is approximately one firearm for every citizen, the discussion surrounding firearm regulation and law enforcement's role in maintaining safety is of utmost importance.
In the United States, there are approximately 1.1 million active law enforcement personnel, comprising only 0.34% of the country's population. With the prevalence of mass shootings and consistent threats of terrorism, there is a growing concern for public safety. To address this, some have suggested expanding the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004, which allows qualified active-duty personnel to carry concealed firearms in certain venues. However, this proposal also raises concerns about the potential for abuse or accidental use of firearms by law enforcement.
The OHCHR's Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials outline several guidelines to regulate the use of force. According to Article 3 of the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials, law enforcement officials may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for their duty. The principles emphasize respect for human rights and encourage the development of non-lethal weapons to minimize the risk of endangering innocent bystanders. Additionally, the principles hold superior officers accountable if they are aware of the unlawful use of force and firearms by their subordinates and fail to take preventive or suppressive measures.
In the context of air travel, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has implemented strict regulations for law enforcement officers who need to fly armed. Officers must meet federal qualifications, complete the required training course, and demonstrate an operational need to have their weapon accessible during the flight. These regulations aim to balance the need for armed law enforcement with ensuring the safety and security of all passengers and crew.
While arming law enforcement personnel may provide a sense of security and a faster response to attacks, it is essential to consider the potential drawbacks. Restricting off-duty and retired law enforcement from carrying firearms in certain venues can impact not just those locations but also the areas in between. Additionally, the presence of firearms in venues with large crowds, such as concert arenas, can pose challenges in the event of an attack, as seen in the tragic Manchester Arena bombing in 2017.
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The UK's stance on police carrying guns
The UK has a long-standing tradition of "policing by consent" rather than by force. This means that most British police officers do not carry firearms while on duty and instead rely on other tools such as handcuffs, batons, and occasionally stun guns. This approach is based on the belief that intelligence-gathering and strong community relationships are more effective in maintaining safety than arming police officers.
In England and Wales, the majority of police officers are unarmed, with only a small fraction likely to fire their weapons. The Metropolitan Police, which covers most of London, has approximately 2,500 officers authorised to carry guns, mainly for specialist missions such as counter-terrorism operations and protecting sensitive sites.
The decision to arm police officers in the UK is made by the Chief Constable and Police Authority of each force, who determine the number of firearms officers and the type of firearms available. This allows for flexibility and adaptability based on the specific needs and challenges faced by each police force.
In recent years, there have been incidents that have sparked debates and protests about police carrying guns in the UK. For example, in 2022, an unarmed 24-year-old man, Chris Kaba, was killed by a police officer in London, leading to hundreds of specialist firearms officers refusing to carry guns on duty.
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The UK's police use of firearms policy
The UK's policy on police use of firearms varies between its constituent countries. In Northern Ireland, all police officers carry firearms, while in the rest of the UK, only specially-trained firearms officers carry guns. This difference in policy is due to the historical threat posed by the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the continued threat of dissident Irish republicanism. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), formerly the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC), has wide-ranging anti-terrorism powers and its officers have access to a variety of weapons, including firearms, CS spray, water cannon, attenuating energy projectiles, and tasers.
In England and Wales, guidance on the use of firearms is provided by the ACPO and the Home Office, but decisions on which weapons will be employed by a specific force are made by the Chief Constable of that force. The Metropolitan Police, for example, issues its plainclothes and firearms officers with the Glock 26 pistol, while the Staffordshire Police use the Heckler & Koch SFP9. Other firearms used by police in England include the SIG Sauer SIG516, Heckler & Koch MP5, and the Remington 700 variant.
The history of British police officers not routinely carrying firearms dates back to the formation of the Metropolitan Police Service in the 19th century and is partly due to public fears and objections to armed enforcers. The UK's approach to policing by consent prioritizes de-escalation tactics and the use of force only as a last resort.
While not firearms, incapacitant sprays like CS spray and Tasers are subject to similar rules and regulations as projectile-firing firearms under the Firearms Act 1968. Tasers, in particular, have been issued to Authorised Firearms Officers since 2004 as a less-lethal alternative to conventional firearms.
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The UK's gun-homicide rates compared to countries with armed police forces
The UK has some of the strictest gun control laws in the world, and as a result, its gun-homicide rate is extremely low compared to countries with more relaxed gun laws and armed police forces, such as the United States.
In the UK, only specially trained officers are authorized to carry firearms, and they are typically deployed in high-risk situations or when there is a direct threat to the public. This is in stark contrast to the US, where law enforcement officers are routinely armed and active-duty personnel can carry weapons in many venues. The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 in the US, for example, allows retired law enforcement personnel to carry concealed firearms, increasing the likelihood of a "good guy with a gun" during a terrorist attack or mass shooting.
Despite having a much larger population, the UK's rate of gun-related crimes and homicides is significantly lower than that of the US. In 2023, the US saw a decrease in gun deaths for the second consecutive year, but the total number remained among the highest annual totals on record. Handguns were involved in 53% of the 13,529 US gun murders and non-negligent manslaughters for which data was available. Rifles, including "assault weapons," were involved in 4%, while shotguns accounted for 1%. The remaining 42% involved other types of firearms.
While the UK has a lower rate of gun-related crimes overall, there have been recent reports of increases in certain areas. In 2019, four police forces in the UK reported that gun crime had reached its highest level in a decade. However, this was still considered well below the national average, and incidents of firearms in communities were described as "very rare." The UK's strict gun control laws and low gun-homicide rate highlight the effectiveness of stringent firearm regulations in reducing gun violence.
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The US's police use of firearms policy
The use of firearms by US law enforcement officers is a highly debated topic. In a country where there is one firearm for every citizen, and mass shootings are a consistent threat, the presence of armed officers is considered by some as a necessity to improve security. However, others argue that removing firearms from law enforcement would increase safety in a free society that values its protection of civil liberties.
The Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2004 allows qualified retired law enforcement to carry concealed firearms. However, there are restrictions on this; retired officers are prohibited from carrying firearms on planes, trains, and cruise ships, and in certain venues such as concert arenas. This restriction has been criticised as it hampers the ability of retired officers to respond to attacks, not only in the prohibited venues but also in the locations in-between.
The Department of Justice outlines its policy on the use of force in its Justice Manual. It states that officers may only use the level of force that is objectively reasonable to effectively control an incident, while protecting the safety of the officer and others. The Supreme Court has stated that the decision to use force requires careful attention to the facts and circumstances of each case, including the severity of the crime, whether the suspect poses an immediate threat, and whether the suspect is resisting or attempting to evade arrest. Officers are prohibited from using a chokehold or carotid restraint unless the standard of necessity for the use of deadly force is met, and they must be trained in de-escalation tactics and alternative methods for handling resisting subjects.
Basic principles on the use of force and firearms by law enforcement officials include guidelines that specify the circumstances under which officers are authorised to carry firearms, ensure that firearms are only used in appropriate circumstances to decrease the risk of unnecessary harm, prohibit the use of firearms that cause unwarranted injury, regulate the control, storage, and issuing of firearms, provide for warnings to be given when firearms are to be discharged, and establish a system of reporting when law enforcement officials use firearms. Law enforcement officials should also receive training and be tested on the use of force, with special attention given to police ethics, human rights, and alternatives to the use of force, such as the peaceful settlement of conflicts and the understanding of crowd behaviour.
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Frequently asked questions
Police in England and Wales do not routinely carry firearms. US law enforcement officers are not allowed to carry firearms in England.
The history of officers not being armed originates from the formation of the Metropolitan Police Service in the 19th century and is partly due to public fears and objections to armed enforcers.
In 2008, the Home Secretary approved the use of tasers for all officers in England and Wales.
In the US, the overriding goal of current law, policy, and training on the use of force is to protect the safety of police. In England, the European Convention of Human Rights states that officers can only shoot if it's "absolutely necessary."
