Armed response vehicles in the United Kingdom
An armed response vehicle (ARV) is a type of police car operated by the British police. ARVs are crewed by Authorised Firearms Officers to respond to emergency telephone calls believed to involve firearms or other high-risk situations. ARVs are specially adapted and modified to accommodate specialist equipment, along with the transportation of armed officers to a scene of an incident.
Contents |
Armed response vehicles were introduced to the British Police to provide them with a firearms response capability, as the United Kingdom police do not routinely carry firearms on patrol, with the exception of a minority of armed officers. Outside of London, ARVs are controlled and organised by the Force Firearms Unit, and within the capital they are controlled by Specialist Firearms Command. ARVs are identifiable in London by a yellow dot sticker, visible from each angle, and an asterisk on the roof to enable helicopters to identify the vehicle as being an ARV. Diplomatic Protection Group vehicles, identifiable from their red paintwork, utilise the same markings to dictate the carrying of firearms officers.
ARVs deployed for the first time in London, during 1991. Following their success, forces outside of the capital later formed them throughout the early to mid 1990s. The concept of an ARV was influenced by West Yorkshire Police's instant response cars, as used in 1976.
Early ARVs contained a secure safe between the seats containing a .38 Smith & Wesson Model 10 for each member, with two 9mm Heckler & Koch MP5 semi-automatic carbines secured in the boot (trunk). After ARVs became established and the practice was accepted for widespread use, the Model 10 revolvers were replaced by more recent self-loading Glock 17s, firing 9 mm rounds.
Revolvers and pistols could be removed from the secure safe by ARV members if, in a member's opinion, an immediate threat to life was posed. Authorisation to remove carbines required authorisation from the control room once they had contacted an officer of Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) rank. If a high ranking officer was not available, a Chief Inspector could give authorisation in an emergency. Following an increase in the size of the Firearms Unit, Commissioner Sir Paul Condon issued regulations, effective 23 May 1994, that gave ARV crews standing authority to wear their handguns overtly and to deploy their weapons. Several police forces followed suit. The Greater Manchester police became one of those whose AFVs that openly carried firearms beginning 6 September 1994.[1]
The usage of firearms by the police is covered by statute (such as the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 and Human Rights Act 1998), policy (such as the Home Office Code of Practice on Police use of Firearms and Less Lethal Weapons and the ACPO Manual of Guidance on Police Use of Firearms) and common law.
AFOs may only carry firearms when authorised by an "appropriate authorising officer".[2] The appropriate authorising officer must be of the rank of Inspector or higher.[3] When working at airports, nuclear sites, on protection duties, and deployed in armed response vehicles in certain areas, standing authority is granted to carry personal side arms.[4] All members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland have authority to carry a personal issue handgun as a matter of routine.[5] In all forces, usage of other weapons such as semi-automatic carbines requires further training and authorisation. Semi-automatic carbines are stored in a locked armoury which is situated in the boot of an armed response vehicle. Equipping of semi-automatic carbines rests on a judgment of the AFO.[1]
United Kingdom law allows the use of "reasonable force" in order to make an arrest or prevent a crime[6][7] or to defend one's self.[8] However, if the force used is fatal, then the European Convention of Human Rights only allows "the use of force which is no more than absolutely necessary".[9] Firearms officers may therefore only discharge their weapons "to stop an imminent threat to life".[10]
ACPO policy states that use of a firearm includes both pointing it at a person and discharging it (whether accidentally, negligently or on purpose).[11] As with all use of force in England and Wales, the onus is on the individual officer to justify their actions in court.[12]