Suella Braverman has ordered a review of armed policing after dozens of Metropolitan police officers stepped back from firearms duties after an officer was charged with murder over a shooting.
The home secretary said firearms officers have to make “split-second decisions” and “mustn’t fear ending up in the dock for carrying out their duties”.
The review follows reports that more than 70 police marksmen said they want time to consider whether or not they wish to still carry a gun given their colleague is facing a murder charge.
Other armed officers have reportedly declined to go out on regular armed patrol, remaining instead at their stations, while some said they will respond only in emergency situations.
Senior officers, including the Met commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, have been meeting firearms officers in recent days after the charging of an armed officer, who has only been identified as NX121, with the murder of Chris Kaba in September last year.
The Met police officer appeared in court on Thursday in relation to the fatal shooting of Kaba, 24, who was unarmed when he was shot and killed in south London.
The officer has been given conditional bail and is expected to stand trial next year.
Scotland Yard acknowledged the situation had prompted “a number of officers” to “step back from armed duties while they consider their position”.
To deal with the police action, officers from neighbouring forces stepped in to help patrol the capital on Saturday night.
The Met has alerted neighbouring forces of the situation and requested help under the mutual aid system if problems arise.
The Guardian reported that firearms cover at airports, royalty and diplomatic protection and at parliament will not be affected.
Braverman said: “We depend on our brave firearms officers to protect us from the most dangerous and violent in society.
“In the interest of public safety they have to make split-second decisions under extraordinary pressures.
“They mustn’t fear ending up in the dock for carrying out their duties. Officers risking their lives to keep us safe have my full backing and I will do everything in my power to support them.
“That’s why I have launched a review to ensure they have the confidence to do their jobs while protecting us all.”
Meanwhile, the Met said its supporting officers who have stepped back from firearms duties to help them “fully understand the genuinely held concerns that they have”, a spokesperson said.
“The Met has a significant firearms capability and we continue to have armed officers deployed in communities across London as well as at other sites including parliament, diplomatic premises, airports, etc.”
Kaba, died in September last year after he was shot through a car windscreen in Streatham, south London.