Specialist Firearms Command

CO19
CO19
Active	1966–Present
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Central Operations
Type	Central Operations
Role	Domestic Counter-Terrorism and Law Enforcement
Nickname(s)	SO19, Blue Berets, CO19
Colours	Black, blue
Commanders
Current; commander	Chief Superintendent Bill Tillbrook

The Specialist Firearms Command (CO19) (previously SO19) is a Central Operations branch of London's Metropolitan Police Service. The unit's role is to provide a firearms capability and support to the rest of the service, most of which is unarmed. CO19's work allows almost all policing activities in Greater London to be conducted in the traditional manner by unarmed officers. It is sometimes considered by the media to be London's equivalent to the SWAT units in the United States. CO19 have often been referred to as the "Blue Berets", since they used to wear them, although now they are more likely to wear PASGT helmets or baseball caps. However, the blue beret is still worn on ceremonial occasions.

History

The Firearms Wing, as it was called when it was established, was formed as part of the Civil Defence and Communications Branch (D6) in December 1966 in response to the murder of three officers in the Massacre of Braybrook Street.^[1] The Commissioner requested applications from officers within the Service who had previous experience of handling firearms and who were interested in becoming dedicated firearms instructors. Ten officers attended a course at the Small Arms Wing of the School of Infantry, Hythe, in January 1967. Having completed their training, the instructors returned to the Metropolitan Police Service to train Firearms Officers throughout the Service. Due to restructuring of departments, D6 became D11 in the same year.

The D11 teams, known as Level 1 Officers, were made up of instructors, and would normally only be operationally deployed at established siege situations in the capital where their firearms experience would aid the swift resolution of the incident. Officers qualified using the Webley & Scott .22 revolver, or in more recent years the Browning .22 High Power Self-Loading Pistol. Some Level 1 officers were also trained for using the Enfield Enforcer 7.62mm sniper rifle for counter-sniper roles. The branch gradually grew in size throughout the 1970s, as more qualified firearms instructors were recruited to keep up with the increase in demand for firearms training. During the 1970s, D11 officers qualified in the Smith & Wesson Model 36 and the Model 10

In the early 1980s, such was the demand for operational firearms support from the department, officers were recruited to fulfil a non-instructional role. This position created the Level 2 Officers, as they were known, who were deployed to pre-planned and response operations that did not involve hostages or suspects with exceptional fire power, these latter types of incidents being attended by the Level 1 Officers. D11 was renamed PT17 ("PT" as the unit was a branch of "Personnel and Training") in 1987. PT17 Officers at this time were issued with Browning 9mm Self-Loading Pistols or Smith & Wesson Model 28 revolvers. Officers were also trained to use the Heckler & Koch 93 assault rifle.

In another response to the operational demands placed on it, the department underwent a drastic restructuring in 1991. Level 1 and 2 officers merged together to form Specialist Firearms Officer, or SFO, Teams. The SFOs continued to deploy to pre-planned firearms operations, kidnaps and sieges, a role they still fulfil to this day. At the same time, the branch created the role of the Authorised Firearms Officers to crew the newly devised Armed Response Vehicles to meet the increase in firearms related crime in 1991^[2]. Using high-performance marked response vehicles, ARV officers provided a rapid response to spontaneous firearms incidents, such as armed robberies, around the clock, the first such organised system the capital had seen.

These changes occurred at the same time that the branch, for the first time, came under the control of the Specialist Operations designation, which renamed the department SO19, the "SO" standing for Specialist Operations. The ARV officers were issued with the Smith & Wesson Model 10 revolver, with some officers also being trained to use the Heckler & Koch MP5 semi-automatic carbine. Following another periodic reorganisation in 2005, SO19 became CO19 as it moved into the Central Operations designation of the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS). At the same time, the department was renamed from the Firearms Unit to the Specialist Firearms Command.

Whilst the core function of the branch, to provide firearms training and support, remains unchanged since its creation, its role continually changes to meet the demands placed on it. The branch today fulfils very different roles to those which its original members carried out 30 years ago.

All aspects of armed policing in the UK are covered by guidance issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers in their Manual of Guidance on the Police Use of Firearms. This manual provides an overview of the basic principles such as rules of engagement and tactics involved in the use of firearms by police officers in different environments along with details of command structures that are in place in all pre-planned and spontaneous firearms operations.

Current role

Training

As of 2007, the Command maintains its training role and is responsible for training the MPS's 2,594 AFOs. These include officers from the Royalty and Diplomatic Protection Department, SO15, Counter Terrorism Command, CO6, Diplomatic Protection Group, Aviation Security Operational Command Unit, policing London Heathrow and London City Airport. Along with Flying Squad (SCD7(5), Specialist and Royalty Protection Command and the Belmarsh High Security Court Team, as well as the armed officers from CO19 itself. Some Territorial Support Group (TSG) officers are also trained AFOs, despite the TSG being a public disorder quick reaction force.

Authorised Firearms Officers, who are known to crew Armed Response Vehicles (ARV) are invited to attend the Training Centre, after they have undergone the written tests and interviews along with the successful completion of their probationary period, with a further two years in a core policing role. The potential AFOs undergo one week of intensive training on the Glock 17 Pistol, and the Heckler & Koch MP5 Semi-Automatic Carbine. This is followed by a further six weeks of training focused on ARVs, such as driving techniques, high speed pursuit methods and safely executing controlled crashes.

Authorised Firearms Officers wishing to become Specialist Firearms Officers are required to attend an eight week training course at the Metropolitan Police Specialist Training Centre. However, the potential recruit is only invited to attend the centre if they have successfully passed written psychological tests, and have been security cleared. Usually, the role of an SFO is to intervene in situations that are beyond the control of AFOs, who crew Armed Response Vehicles. Potential SFOs are extensively trained on the safe use of specialist firearms, Method of Entry techniques to gain access to premises quickly, abseiling and 'fast rope' skills, scenario training such as being instructed to search a specially adapted training area of an aircraft, extensive use of tear gas and stun grenades, safe handling of rescued hostages and rescue techniques, computer simulated 'war games' of potential threats such as terrorist attacks, and training in the use of protective clothing against CBRN attack.

Based at the purpose-built Metropolitan Police Specialist Training Centre (MPSTC), CO19 provides initial and continuation training for all firearms officers within the MPS. There are roughly 24 different courses that are provided by CO19 Instructors. Courses are based on the National Firearms Training Curriculum, to cover the variety of roles covered by AFOs in the MPS. The courses ranges from Firepower Demonstrations (to highlight the dangers of firearms to new MPS Recruits) and Initial Firearms Courses, to Firearms Incident Commander training and National Firearms Instructor courses. There were 683 courses run at MPSTC in the 2006-07 financial year.

Operational Firearms Support

Armed Response Vehicles

Officers of CO19 in an Armed Response Vehicle (ARV)

In 1991, Armed Response Vehicle were introduced into the Metropolitan Police. The ARV was originally based on West Yorkshire Police's Instant Response Vehicles, are designed to respond to calls involving firearm, such as armed robberies, day or night. They are the first armed officers to arrive on the scene and trained to stabilise and control armed incidents that occur anywhere in London. ARV officers are also trained to stop and search suspects, their vehicles and to search premises for armed suspects.

Each Armed Response Vehicle is crewed by three uniformed officers, each fulfilling a specific function whilst responding to calls. The driver is responsible for getting the crew to the scene in the fastest, safest way possible, while having regard for the public presence on the roads. The 'navigator' is responsible for the many in-car communications systems. They are also responsible for ascertaining the most accurate information about the call the crew is responding to. The 'observer' is responsible for liaising with other services on the scene, and requesting more support if needed. The majority of the ARV fleet is BMW 5 Series saloons, equipped to carry firearms. These modifications are designed to meet the heavy 24/7 usage of the vehicles as well as to meet the operational needs of the department. Most ARVs can be recognised by its distinctive yellow circle located on the rear windows.

All officers carrying firearms, are routinely issued with 9mm Glock 17 self-loading pistol, and X26 Taser which they carry at all times on duty along with standard issue personal protective equipment such as ASP baton, Hiatts Speedcuffs and CS/PAVA Incapacitant spray. They also have access to the Heckler & Koch MP5 9mm semi-automatic carbines, and L104A1 Baton gun. All ARV officers are trained to administer Ballistic First Aid and are Emergency Life Saver trained. In many instances, ARV crews can arrive at the scene of shooting before paramedics or ambulances, and are frequently required to provide life saving techniques on shooting victims.

The workload of the ARVs has increased dramatically since their inception. In their first year, 1991, they were actively deployed on 132 occasions. In 2006, they deployed 2,232 times in response to 11,725 calls to spontaneous firearms incidents. The average response time of an ARV anywhere in London is just 4 minutes. ARVs can be identified by distinct markings from standard police vehicles by the fluorescent yellow circles located on the vehicle's windows.

Tactical Support Teams

In 2004, Tactical Support Teams (TSTs) were introduced and provide covert and overt proactive support to other specialist units, such as the Flying Squad or the Specialist Crime Directorate and to Borough Operations. Most of their work is on authorised pre-planned operations and much of it involves supporting surveillance as well as arrest and search operations. The TST role was introduced to help meet the increased demands being placed on the unit and to sit directly in-between the ARV and SFO roles. In the 2006/07 financial year, the TST teams undertook over 280 deployments.

Specialist Firearms Officers

File:British Armed Police.jpg

CO19 officers cordoning an area of Mayfair, City of Westminister on 2 June 2008 during a raid on the Park Lane Safety Deposit.

The CO19 Specialist Firearms Officers(SFOs) are multi-skilled officers capable of delivering all elements of armed policing, including rapid intervention and hostage rescue. All of the SFOs have served on ARVs prior to applying to become an SFO. The 65 days of intensive initial training includes advanced weapons handling training on a wider range of weaponry, including the Heckler & Koch G36 and G3, abseiling techniques, maritime operations training, dynamic entry techniques and in the use of distraction devices. They also undergo training to conduct operations in CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) environments and to provide a response to terrorist attacks in London as part of the MPS's Operation Kratos.

The SFO teams focus almost entirely on supporting authorised firearms operations and providing a response to developed sieges and other operations of a highly specialised nature. Their level of training, exposure and experience in dealing with such a wide range of armed incidents lead many to consider the CO19 SFOs to be one of Europe's leading specialist armed police support units. The SFO teams undertook 407 deployments in the 2006/07 financial year.

Firearms in use

In popular culture

As SO19, and now referred to as "CO19", the unit often features in The Bill.

CO19 (formerly SO19) was heavily used in the PlayStation 2 video game series The Getaway as backup for DC Frank Carter of the Flying Squad and Sgt Ben Mitchell of CO19, the operatives in the first game wore baseball caps, but the designers later reworked the model, with their headgear changed into PASGT helmets.

In 2007 film Hot Fuzz, Nicholas Angel is described as a former member of SO19, and is shown in flashback armed with a G36 and full assault gear shooting an offender holding an AK-47.