Officers authorised to carry firearms from 2010 to 2021

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.027321

I note you seek access to the following information:

How many officers ,of any rank, were authorised to carry firearms in the following years:
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021.

In addition how many of those have carried a firearm on patrol in the same years?

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you.

These searches successfully located some of the information relevant to your request.

Please note the MPS do not hold the data for the second part of your request. It is worth noting that firearms are utilised in a number of policing roles - both overt and covert - and not necessarily for ‘patrol’.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - How many officers ,of any rank, were authorised to carry firearms in the following years:
2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021

The data below shows MPS Deployable Authorised Firearms Officers between the ranks of Constable & Chief Inspector - data calculated on 31st December of each calendar year. This data does not include officers who are non-deployable as Firearms officers for any reason including classification issues, sickness, restricted/recuperative duties, complaints/investigation, maternity/paternity leave, or who have voluntarily surrendered their firearms authorisation.

Year	MPS Deployable
2010-21	AFO Totals
2010	2745
2011	2702
2012	2481
2013	2157
2014	2132
2015	2199
2016	2280
2017	2579
2018	2596
2019	2686
2020	2410
2021	2385