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Crisis of confidence among firearms cops is leading to alarming shortfall in numbers
The Home Office is conducting a review into the present investigation system
A CRISIS of confidence among firearms cops has led to an alarming shortfall in numbers, The Sun can reveal.
Met Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist says morale is at its lowest ever, with gun officers fearful of the scrutiny they face if they fire shots.
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He called for fairer accountability rules — as cops involved in shootings currently face investigations lasting years.
Mr Twist said: “Officers’ confidence in their ability to discharge their firearms on behalf of the public is at an all-time low.
“At the moment, officers do not have confidence that the system that holds them to account is either fair, objective or timely.”
The Home Office is conducting a review into the present investigation system.
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It was ordered when around 300 firearms officers handed in their weapons last September after a colleague was charged with murder over a fatal shooting.
Mr Twist says the current system is deterring recruits from becoming gun cops.
He adds it is one of the key reasons behind a shortage of Met armed officers.
The Sun has independently learned the Met is at least ten per cent below strength of just over 3,000 firearms officers.
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His comments come as The Sun today publishes the personal stories of two firearms officers who shot dead armed suspects in the line of duty.
Both spoke of their fears of the legal backlash they faced after pulling the trigger — and the emotional anguish they suffered after taking a life.
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