HUGHES CALLS FOR ARMED POLICE IN HOTSPOTS AS LICENSED FIREARM OFFICERS DROP 8% IN 4 YEARS

11.44.36am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 19th Apr 2004

Simon has called for armed police in London murder hotspots

Responding to the new figures revealing a 7.5% increase in the London murder rate, Liberal Democrat London Mayoral candidate and former Shadow Home Secretary, Simon Hughes, today has called for officers in London 'hotspots' to be armed.

Mr Hughes has also called for a review of whether officers should immediately be suspended from duty if they discharge their firearms. The call follows figures that show that in 1999-00, there were 1,977 Authorised Firearms Officers. By 2002-03, the latest period available, there were 1,823.

Mr Hughes said:-

"I understand the increasing concern of London's police that they often find themselves in the frontline without adequate protection. When the level of gun crime in a particular area or borough justifies it, police should be armed for a limited period.

"Met police officers as a rule should not be routinely armed. But if we are to resist calls for a general arming of the police then we must make sure vulnerable colleagues on the force are protected.

"With the number of licensed firearm police declining, a review must be carried out on whether police should continue to be automatically suspended from front line duties after firing their weapon."

ENDS

Number of authorised firearms officers in the Met (AFOs)

Total AFO's in London

1999-2000 - 2050

2000-01 - 2014

2001-02 - 1878

2002-03 - 1895