Met hopeful firearms officers crisis abating after review vow

Scotland Yard chiefs were hopeful that the rebellion by their own firearms officers was subsiding, with more returning to carrying weapons assuaged by promises that a review would examine greater protections.

- Vikram Dodd 

The crisis was triggered when officers refused to carry out armed patrols after the announcement last Wednesday by prosecutors that a firearms officer would face a murder charge for shooting dead an unarmed suspect, Chris Kaba, last September in south London.

Privately, senior sources insisted the home secretary, Suella Braverman, had convinced police leaders she was serious about introducing changes if recommended by the review, with firearms officers believing they risk being persecuted for carrying out their duties and using force.

Sources with knowledge of the firearms command said officers' concerns had eased enough to allow some to return to full duty, after the Met commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, used an open letter to say that officers needed greater protections, and that both the police watchdog and prosecutors needed to consider reforming the way they pursue officers who use force.

Key tests will come as trained armed officers report for shifts today.