WIREDGOV

Simon Chesterman, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead on armed policing, blames the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for a supposed shortfall in armed officers to meet the terror threat, yet presents no evidence.

The IPCC is responsible for investigations into all fatal police shootings. In the case of terror attacker Khalid Masood, as in the overwhelming majority of such incidents, no officer is under criminal or disciplinary investigation. We believe officers should be separated from each other after such events — mirroring the approach police take with all key witnesses – but this doesn’t mean isolation. Officers may need the support of colleagues who were not at the shooting, medical staff or the Police Federation. They are free to have that.

Our independent scrutiny should not cause any officer to be concerned about taking on a firearms role and those within the police service who suggest otherwise should be careful about stoking unfounded fears particularly at a time when the need for firearms officers is so vital to public safety.

Sarah Green

IPCC Deputy Chair