List of police firearms in the United Kingdom
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Most British police officers (except in Northern Ireland) are not routinely armed.[1] Instead, they rely on specially trained Authorised Firearms Officers (AFO) to attend incidents where firearms are necessary. Specialist Firearms Officers are usually trained to a higher standard than AFOs, because they are likely to be required to enter besieged premises. The vast majority of firearms used by British police are semi-automatic. Police use of force regarding firearms is governed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
Weapons used by Home Office police forces[]
Firearms used by police officers vary between police forces in the UK. The Chief Constable and Police authority of each force decides the number of firearms officers and type of police firearms available. In 2010, 5.56mm calibre carbines were widely introduced in case an attack similar to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.[2][3]
Firearms issued to Authorised Firearms Officers include:
Pistols[]
- Glock series
- Glock 17 (most commonly issued pistol among all Home Office police forces).[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]
- Glock 17M (Glock 17 variant issued to firearms officers of the Metropolitan Police).[7]
- Glock 19 (issued to South Yorkshire Police as a variant to the Glock 17 pistol[citation needed], as well as to firearms officers of the Metropolitan Police).[7]
- Glock 19M (Glock 19 variant issued to firearms officers of the Metropolitan Police).[7]
- Glock 26 (issued to plainclothes[13] and firearms officers of the Metropolitan Police).[7]
- SIG Sauer P226 (issued to Sussex Police).[14]
- SIG Sauer P229 (issued to West Midlands Police).[citation needed]
- SIG Sauer P320 (issued to West Midlands Police to replace the P229[15][16] and Lancashire Constabulary).[citation needed]
- SIG Sauer P250 (issued to Cleveland Police[17] and Essex Police[18])
- SIG Pro (used by Essex Police[18])
Submachine guns[]
- Heckler & Koch MP5 (used by various forces, including the Metropolitan Police since 1977,[19][7][20] Thames Valley Police,[21] Greater Manchester Police,[22] Cheshire Police and North Wales Police Alliance Armed Policing Unit,[23] Sussex Police,[14] Surrey Police[24] and West Midlands Police;[25] includes fixed stock A2, retractable stock A3, and compact MP5K variants,[7] with the Metropolitan Police also having access to suppressed versions.[26] While normally issued in semi-automatic MP5SF form, select-fire versions are available.[20][26]).
Rifles[]
- Heckler & Koch G36 variants (used by multiple forces including the Metropolitan Police,[7] City of London Police,[27][28] Police Scotland,[29][30] West Yorkshire Police,[31] Cleveland Police,[32] Dyfed–Powys Police,[33] Bedfordshire Police,[34] Kent Police,[35] Northumbria Police,[36][37] South Wales Police,[38] Northamptonshire Police,[39][40][41] Surrey Police,[42] Cheshire Police and North Wales Police Alliance Armed Policing Unit,[43] Essex Police,[44][45][18] Lancashire Constabulary,[27] Norfolk Constabulary,[46][47] Gloucestershire Constabulary,[48] Merseyside Police,[49] and Greater Manchester Police[50][27][51]).
- LMT Defender (used by Hampshire and Thames Valley Police Armed Response[52][53][54])
- LMT LM7 (used by Northumbria Police)[55]
- Heckler & Koch G3 G3-SG1 and PSG-1 variant (used for sniping roles), G3K variant used by Metropolitan Police.[56][7]
- HK53 (used by Cumbria Constabulary)[57][58]
- SIG SG 550 (551 variant) (used by West Mercia Police).[59] (552 variant) (previously used by Derbyshire Police)[60] and (553 variant) (used by West Yorkshire Police[61] and Staffordshire Police).[62]
- SIG Sauer SIG516 (increasingly being used by police around the UK including WMP).[63][64][7][65][66][16]
- SIG Sauer SIG716 (7.62x51mm version of SIG516, issued to firearms officers of the Metropolitan Police).[7]
- HK416 (Used by West Mercia Police[67] and Cumbria Constabulary[68][69])
- SIG Sauer MCX (used by various forces' Counter Terrorist Specialist Firearms Officers (CTSFOs), Specialist Firearms Officers (SFOs) and Authorised Firearms Officers (AFOs) including the Metropolitan Police,[7] Derbyshire Constabulary, West Yorkshire Police, West Midlands Police,[70] Police Scotland, Northumbria Police,[12][71][72] and Lancashire Constabulary[73].)
- SIG MCX Rattler (issued to firearms officers of the Metropolitan Police).[7]
- HK417 Marksman Rifle (used by Surrey Police[42] and Essex Police[18])
- Ruger Precision Rifle (used by Northumbria Police)[74]
- Remington 700 variant (used by police snipers during the Raoul Moat manhunt)[75][76]
- Accuracy International Arctic Warfare (7.62x51mm and .338 variants issued to firearms officers of the Metropolitan Police;[7] also used by Essex Police[18] and Cheshire Police and North Wales Police Alliance Armed Policing Unit[77][78])
- Tikka T3 (used by Essex Police[18])
In addition to the issued weapons above, AK-47 variants have been seen in use with Metropolitan Police officers roleplaying as gunmen during CTSFO training exercises.[79][80]
Shotguns[]
- Remington 870 shotgun (used by Greater Manchester Police).[81][82]
- Benelli M3 Super 90 (used by Metropolitan Police firearms officers since 2004).[7][83][84]
- Benelli Nova and Supernova (used by Essex Police[18])
- Unidentified pump action shotguns used by Cheshire Police and North Wales Police Alliance Armed Policing Unit[85] and West Midlands Police[86]
Riot guns[]
- Heckler & Koch HK69A1 L104A1/A2 37mm riot gun for baton rounds (used by Metropolitan Police,[87][7] Kent Police,[35] South Wales Police,[88] Dyfed–Powys Police,[33] Hampshire and Thames Valley Police Armed Response,[52] Lancashire Constabulary,[89] Northumbria Police,[12] and Essex Police;[18] used with attenuating energy projectile and discriminating irritant projectile rounds[90])
Grenades[]
Northern Ireland[]
Unlike territorial police forces in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as the Garda Síochána in the neighbouring Republic of Ireland, all Police Service of Northern Ireland officers are trained to use firearms and are routinely armed while on duty,[92] as were those of the preceding Royal Ulster Constabulary; many officers also carry firearms while off duty.[93] Historically, RUC officers were issued with the Ruger Speed-Six revolver from 1979 onwards and had access to the Sterling submachine gun and the Ruger AC-556 select-fire rifle until these were replaced by the Heckler & Koch MP5 submachine gun and the Heckler & Koch G3 and Heckler & Koch HK33[94] rifles between 1992 and 1995, with the PSNI inheriting the Speed-Six revolvers and the Heckler & Koch weapons upon its formation in 2001; the Speed-Six revolvers were subsequently superseded by the Glock 17 pistol from 2002 onwards,[95][96] while Heckler & Koch G36 variants were acquired to supplement earlier Heckler & Koch weapons.[27][97] L104 riot guns are available for crowd control purposes.[98]
Weapons used by non-Home Office police forces[]
British Transport Police[]
Most British Transport Police officers are unarmed. British Transport police AFOs carry:
Belfast Harbour Police[]
Like the PSNI, Belfast Harbour Police officers are issued the Glock 17 pistol.
Belfast International Airport Constabulary[]
Like the PSNI, officers of the Belfast International Airport Constabulary are issued the Glock 17 pistol whilst on duty. Officers are also authorised to carry Heckler & Koch MP5s, similar to those used by the PSNI prior to the adoption of the Heckler & Koch G36.
Civil Nuclear Constabulary[]
Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) officers are routinely armed while carrying out their duties. CNC officers carry:
- Glock 17[101][102]
- Heckler & Koch G36K and C semi-automatic variants (Fitted with integral ZF 3×4° sights,[103] EOTech holographic sights,[104] or ACOG telescopic sights[105])[102][106][27]
- LMT LM7[102]
CNC officers also operate the armament on board the ships of Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited,[107] which specialise in transporting spent nuclear fuel and reprocessed uranium on behalf of the British Nuclear Fuels organisation.[108] Such ships have an on-board escort of armed police.[109][110] The Civil Nuclear Constabulary use a range of heavier weapons up to automatic cannon of 30mm calibre deployed on the ships.
Ministry of Defence Police[]
All Ministry of Defence Police officers are required to pass a firearms module during training (with additional training for marine units[111]) and are routinely armed unless they belong to the CID.[112][113]
- SIG-Sauer P229[112][113]
- Heckler & Koch MP5-SF[114]- issued to specialist units. Widely replaced in general service by the MP7, but remains in inventory.[115]
- Heckler & Koch MP7[112][113][116][117] issued to non-specialist units nationwide. Phased in to remove the need to carry a rifle and side arm although some units still carry both. The SF (Single Fire) Variant was produced to meet the exclusive request by MDP as its only user worldwide.
- Colt Canada C8[112][113][118] -specialist units[119]
- L85A2[112][113][120] Used by the special escort group and officers at AWE Aldermaston and Burghfield.[citation needed]
- LM7[113]
- H&K AEP Launcher[113]
Historical firearms[]
In the past, police have been issued:
- Webley Revolver[121]
- Beretta M1951 selected as the standard sidearm of the Metropolitan Police's Special Branch and Royalty Protective Officers in 1954[122]
- Lee–Enfield rifles[123]
- Sten Gun[124]
- Sterling Mark 6 "Police"—semi-automatic-only version of the Sterling smg
- Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver used in the 1970s by Surrey Constabulary.[24]
- Smith & Wesson Model 36 revolver used in the 1970s by Surrey Constabulary detectives and Special Branch.[24]
- Parker Hale Safari sniper rifle used in the 1970s and 1980s by Surrey Constabulary.[24]
- Browning Hi-Power handgun used in the 1980s by Surrey Constabulary.[24]
- Ruger Mini-14 rifle used in the 1980s by Surrey Constabulary.[24]
- Remington 870 used by the Metropolitan Police prior to the adoption of the Benelli M3 in 2004[84] and in the 1980s by Surrey Constabulary.[24]
- revolver used in the past by West Mercia Constabulary [125]
- Steyr AUG variant used by Gloucestershire Constabulary.[126]
- HK53 used by Strathclyde Police prior to being merged with all other Scottish police forces into Police Scotland[127]
- MP5 used by West Midlands Police prior to the adoption of the SIG Sauer SIG516[128]
- G36 used by West Midlands Police prior to the adoption of the SIG Sauer SIG516[129]
References[]
- ^ [1] Archived 20 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Gardham, Duncan (15 April 2010). "Military-style guns for police to fight terrorists on the streets". The Telegraph. Retrieved 31 May 2017.
- ^ "Report on the Ninth International Law Enforcement Forum - International Law Enforcement Recommendations on Preventing and Countering Armed Attacks". Interpol. 2013. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
- ^ Mears, Tyler (31 May 2017). "The kit and weapons armed police officers carry while patrolling our streets". WalesOnline. Media Wales Ltd. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
The officers secondary weapon is a Glock, possibly 17, which is carried in a holster.
- ^ Shaw, Danny (17 May 2016). "Do police have the firepower to tackle gun menace?". BBC. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
At a firing range in Northampton, 14 policemen and women, each carrying a Glock 17 self-loading pistol, are on their first week of training.
- ^ Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (October 2014). "Review of Standing Firearms Authority for Armed Response Vehicle Crews within Police Scotland" (PDF). Retrieved 25 December 2020. p. 30:
In terms of the handgun, Police Scotland uses the Glock 17 pistol.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "Firearms currently in use". WhatDoTheyKnow. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
- ^ Cheshire&NWales AAP [@CheshNWalesAAP] (17 February 2019). "Weapons and armoury check today . Once the weapons are stripped, this allows officers to check for defaults and ensure smooth working order. #kitcheck #ARV #armedpolicing t.co/M4MrqEQ3nq" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 December 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ Cheshire&NWales AAP [@CheshNWalesAAP] (7 November 2019). "Out with the old and in with the new. The Alliance are about to upgrade all personal issue Glocks to the new Generation 5 glock and new torches. Same weight , some adjustments to hand grip and slide release to carer for left handed officers #newkit #Glock #toughermoredurable t.co/zwf03T8yXo" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 December 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Glock 17". Danny Callcut Photography.
- ^ "Firearms Officers in Training". 14 July 2009 – via Flickr.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c "Firearms equipment - a Freedom of Information request to Northumbria Police". WhatDoTheyKnow. 18 July 2017.
- ^ Thompson, Leroy (30 April 2020). The Browning High-Power Pistol. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 9781472838087 – via Google Books.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Sussex Police Uncovered - Tactical Firearms Unit". Archived from the original on 5 January 2006.
- ^ Birmingham Organised Crime & Gangs Team [@Gangs_WMP] (28 April 2020). "Officers from @Gangs_WMP have executed a number of firearms warrants overnight at addresses across Birmingham, supported by @firearmsWMP & @OSU_WMP. Searches are ongoing and updates to follow. One male is currently in custody. @WMPolice @IanGreenWMP @SuptGMorris @BhamUpdates t.co/uMqc2VtiRH" (Tweet). Retrieved 24 December 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Firearms Operations Unit [@firearmsWMP] (12 October 2020). "Another early shift start for C Unit ARV. Our weapons are the first thing we collect each morning. Top Right is my primary weapon. A Sig Sauer 516 carbine. Below that is my Sig Sauer P320 pistol. On the left are two magazines, a TASER with cartridges and my Captor 2 spray. MG t.co/UvwqUcERQW" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 12 October 2020. Retrieved 29 May 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "> 'Women-friendly' guns move". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h "Equipment used by Armed Police within Essex Police - a Freedom of Information request to Essex Police". WhatDoTheyKnow. 30 August 2014.
- ^ Dodd, Vikram (28 October 2009). "Scotland Yard's commissioner scraps plan for armed police patrols in London | UK news". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Smith, Stephen (31 May 2017). Stop! Armed Police!: Inside the Met's Firearms Unit. Robert Hale Ltd. ISBN 9780719824425 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Top Cover Autumn 2012 Final". Issuu.
- ^ "On the Range". 13 November 2009 – via Flickr.
- ^ Cheshire&NWales AAP [@CheshNWalesAAP] (7 August 2019). "Training today was a hot one