Armed policing code strengthened in response to Grainger Inquiry
New code will bring greater clarity to the process of approving police use of less lethal weapons.
皇冠体育app Home Secretary鈥檚 role in approving police use of less lethal weapons has been strengthened, in the first change to the firearms code for 17 years.
This new code will meet one of the recommendations of the Grainger Inquiry, which called for the process to have greater clarity after they found Greater Manchester Police was using CS cannisters without Secretary of State approval.
皇冠体育app inquiry followed the death of Anthony Grainger, who was fatally shot by Greater Manchester Police.
Policing Minister Kit Malthouse said:
We set up the Anthony Grainger Inquiry to provide answers for his family and to ensure policing learned the lessons from the tragedy.
This new code shows we are responding swiftly to the inquiry鈥檚 recommendations.
皇冠体育app use of firearms by the police should always be a last resort, considered only where there is a serious risk to public or police safety.
鈥楲ess lethal weapons鈥� approved for police use currently includes tasers and attenuating energy projectiles.
皇冠体育app approval process has been strengthened by stating explicitly that Secretary of State approval is required for all new less lethal weapons systems and all significant changes existing systems.
皇冠体育app new 鈥楢rmed Policing and Police Use of Less Lethal Weapons Code of Practice鈥� will be published by the College of Policing. It replaces the 2003 Code of Practice for the Police Use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons.
皇冠体育app code of practice sets out the basic principles of the selection, evaluation, approval, authorisation, acquisition, training and deployment of firearms and less lethal weapons by the police.