The Association of Chief Police Officers will support a number of peer reviews following the 12 killings in Cumbria, the Prime Minister announced today.
ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde said:
“Following the tragic events in Cumbria, as with any major incident, the public would expect that we should take steps to ensure that colleagues across the police service are made aware of the facts of what happened and of any lessons that can be learnt. These peer reviews will benefit from being led by the senior police officers who hold the professional lead in their areas of expertise across the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. They are therefore uniquely placed to identify the issues going forward.”
The reviews will consist of:
1. Firearms licensing – the ACPO lead on firearms licensing Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Whiting will review the file and the procedures adopted in relation to the award of a firearm licence and shotgun certificate to Mr Bird.
2. Firearms response – this will be lead by ACPO lead on police use of firearms Assistant Chief Constable Simon Chesterman. It will cover the response and resources available to deploy to the scene.
3. Firearms tactics and manual – this will follow from the conclusion of the first two reviews and examine whether any accumulated learning should lead to changes to the ACPO firearms manual or tactics.
The Chief Constable of Cumbria Constabulary Craig Mackey has written to ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde requesting endorsement of these peer reviews in relation to the events in Cumbria.
It is expected that these peer reviews will be concluded by the autumn and will be made public when available.
ENDS
Notes for Editors
• The ACPO Press Office can be contacted via 020 7084 8946/47/48 (office hours) or via 07803 903686 (out of office hours).
• The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) is an independent, professionally led strategic body. In the public interest and, in equal and active partnership with Government and the Association of Police Authorities, ACPO leads and co-ordinates the direction and development of the police service in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In times of national need ACPO, on behalf of all chief officers, coordinates the strategic policing response.
• ACPO’s 356 members consist of 261 Chief Police Officers from the Home forces of Assistant Chief Constable rank (Commanders in the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police) and above, plus 74 Senior Police Staff members from the 44 forces in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Non Home forces such as British Transport Police and States of Jersey Police have 16 Chief Police Officer members.
• The manual referred to in the press release is called the ACPO Manual of Guidance on the Management, Command and Deployment of Armed Officers. (No.3)
