Met police request SAS support after firearms officers down weapons
The Metropolitan police have called on the SAS to give counter-terrorism support after firearms officers downed weapons in protest at the charging of a colleague with murder.
Suella Braverman, the home secretary, ordered a review of armed policing to calm a growing rebellion of about 100 officers over the charging on Wednesday of an officer for the murder of 24-year-old Chris Kaba, an unarmed man killed last September by a single shot to the head.
The Met commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, called for greater protections for armed officers, accusing the police watchdog of being too quick to criminally investigate those who use force.
The scale and speed of the protest by Met armed officers prompted Braverman to order an emergency review of armed policing, with sources telling the Guardian there were fears the rebellion could spread further within the Met and around the country.
The Met, which polices most of London, had to ask other smaller forces to lend it armed officers and then yesterday to ask the military for help.
The Guardian understands that the Met asked for soldiers from the SAS to be put on standby for deployment against terrorist suspects, as a significant number of police counterterrorism firearms officers refused to be available for armed duties.
It is understood the soldiers would be used if police counter-terrorism commanders believed they needed to stage a raid. The military personnel would not be deployed on armed patrols on the streets of London.
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