Firearms unit

A firearms unit is a specialized, armed unit within the operational area of a police force in the United Kingdom. For the most part, the police forces of the United Kingdom are generally unarmed; however, the firearms units ensure Armed Response Vehicle crews are trained to the required national standard. Only two forces in the United Kingdom are routinely armed - the Ministry of Defence Police who guard all MOD Property and the Civil Nuclear Constabulary who guard nuclear power stations.

Training and operations

Firearms units receive enhanced training in dynamic entry tactics for hostage rescue, maintain a pool of specialist tactics advisors, and has a planning capability for firearms operations and VIP protection. For example, the Firearms Support Units in Warwickshire is used for arrests of armed criminals, raids, and are currently being trained for NBC protection.

A firearms unit also delivers a significant amount of training to other police forces, on subjects such as specialist firearms tactics.

Within the Metropolitan Police Service, Armed Response Vehicles carry 3 officers. A specialist driver, a navigator and a third who is in charge of scene assesment and liases with other units, such as CID. They act as a communications bridge between other services at the incident and are also in charge of requesting more officers if the need arises.

Types of firearms officer

Authorised Firearms Officer: They are trained in all weapons issued to the police as well as first aid and Method Of Entry (MOE).

Specialist Firearms Officer: Are trained in all police weapons same as above but also are trained in more specialist weapons such as the silenced Heckler & Koch SD. And are trained in such expert things like Close Protection, Tactical Medic a Tactics Advisor or a Advanced Police Driver or are a Police Firearms Instructor

Equipment

Standard Weapons (Authorised Firearms Officer) AFO (All are trained in these despite being AFO or SFO)

German Heckler & Koch MP5 (Sub machine gun or Carbine)
German Heckler & Koch G3 or G36 (G3, Assault rifle but used as sniper, G36 Sub Machine gun)
Austrian Glock 17 (Pistol)
Swiss/American Sig Sauer P226
German Heckler & Koch Baton Gun - less leathal option (Fires a huge rubber projectile)
American Taser International X26 Stun "Gun"

Specialist Weapons (Specialist Firearms Officer (SFO)

American Remington 870 (Shotgun) mainly used for door breaching
German Heckler & Koch PSG1 (Sniper Rifle)
Heckler & Koch German MSG90A1 (Sniper Rifle)
American Riflecraft TMR1 (Sniper Rifle)
Austrian Steyer 7.62mm (Sniper Rifle)
German Heckler & Koch MP5K (Sub Machine Gun)
German Heckler & Koch 93 (Sniper Rifle)
German Heckler & Koch MP5 SD (Submachine gun) - (Just a silenced version of the conventional MP5)
British L1A1 CS Gas Launcher (Launches projectiles full of irritant gas called "CS" or "PAVA")

Alternative names for firearms units

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary: Tactical Aid Group
Metropolitan Police Service: Specialist Firearms Command Previously SO19 now CO19
Kent Constabulary: Training and Tactical Firearms Unit
City of London Police: Tactical Firearms Unit

Overseas firearms units

Specialized armed police units exist even for police agencies where officers are generally armed. The most famous of these specialized units is the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team, in many American cities. Other examples include the Tactical Aid Group (TAG) in the English counties of Devon and Cornwall, Australia's Special Weapons and Operations Squad (SWOS) and the Special Tactics and Rescue force in Singapore.