The Government will introduce an amendment to Crime and Policing Bill which grants anonymity to firearms officers who are charged with a crime following a shooting.
This measure is part of a wider reform that has been introduced in parliament to improve police accountability. It is intended to increase the confidence of officers to perform their duties.
The Bill provides that officers will be presumed to remain anonymous during court proceedings, and in reporting by the media up until they are convicted.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated that anonymity will protect firearms officers, their families and themselves from criminal gangs. It will also “improve timeliness and suitability of investigations into police force use”.
She said: “The proud British traditions of policing through consent depend on mutual trust between police officers and the communities that they serve.
“That is why we have put together an ambitious package to restore both the trust of the public in the police and the confidence in the officers to do their important work in keeping the public safe.
“Police officers who are in specialist roles and make split-second decision to protect the public must be confident to perform their duties. They should know that the systems they use to hold them accountable for their decisions is fair.
The police and public have suffered from unacceptable delays and confusion in the past. These changes will boost confidence in the system, allowing all parties to feel confident that it will operate quickly and efficiently.
In 2023, the use of force by firearms officers was brought to light when a Supreme Court Judge rejected a police officer’s appeal over a historical case in which a suspect had been shot.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct initiated misconduct proceedings against the officer, but the Metropolitan Police contested this, claiming that the officer acted in self defense.
Subscribe to our weekly HR news and guidance
Every Wednesday, receive the Personnel Today Direct newsletter.
Personnel Today offers HR opportunities for the public sector
Browse HR jobs in the public sector
