Military to Replace Armed Police on London Streets Amid Police Crisis

A growing crisis at Scotland Yard, following hundreds of armed officers turning in their weapons over the decision to charge a colleague with murdering an unarmed black man, has prompted Home Secretary Suella Braverman to request military backup. This potentially historic move could see soldiers patrolling London's streets for the first time since a national police strike in 1919. While troops will not have powers of arrest and will only be used as part of armed response units, the situation highlights the scale of the potential staffing emergency facing Britain's largest police force. The Metropolitan Police is believed to have around 3,000 specially trained firearms officers, but hundreds have declined to carry out their duties.

Key Takeaways:

• The Metropolitan Police is facing a major crisis, with hundreds of armed officers turning in their weapons over the decision to charge a colleague with murdering an unarmed black man.
• Home Secretary Suella Braverman has sent an urgent request for military backup to the Ministry of Defence, potentially leading to soldiers patrolling London's streets for the first time since 1919.
• The troops will not have powers of arrest and will only be used as part of armed response units in the event of a terrorist incident or as part of armed patrols in key locations.
• The Metropolitan Police has around 3,000 specially trained firearms officers, but hundreds have declined to carry out their duties.
• The situation is being used by Labour to attack the Government, with law and order set to be a key issue in next year's general election.
• Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has said the Home Secretary's review into armed policing is "long overdue" and that the current situation is causing concern among firearms officers.
• The death of Chris Kaba, a 24-year-old father-to-be, in a police shooting in September last year, has prompted widespread protests and unrest in the capital.

Statistics:

• Over 3,000 specially trained firearms officers work for the Metropolitan Police.
• Hundreds of armed officers have turned in their weapons over the decision to charge a colleague with murdering an unarmed black man.
• 1,000 troops were deployed to help secure London during the 2012 Olympic Games.
• The last time the military was used in mainland Britain for general policing duties outside a major terror threat was during a national police strike in 1919.
• 24-year-old Chris Kaba died in a police shooting in September last year.

Sources:

• The Times
• Daily Telegraph
• BBC News
• The Guardian