MO19 Specialist Firearms Command

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.032880

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. Please provide the number of officers who identify as
(i) male and
(ii) female in MO19 Specialist Firearms Command.

2. Please provide the number of MO19 officers who have been
(i) shot at and uninjured (bullet missed or struck bulletproof vest)
(ii) shot and injured
(iii) shot and killed in each of the last five years in the course of their duties.

3. Please provide details of any additional money MO19 officers receive because they are authorised to carry firearms.

4. Please provide details of the medals awarded to MO19 officers in the calendar year 2022.

5. Please provide the number of bullets fired by MO19 officers in the calendar year 2022 while on duty.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:

Section 21(1) – Information reasonably accessible by other means

Reason for decision

The information requested has been identified as being accessible via other means as it is already published. Where information is already in the public domain we are not required to re-publish the data; instead public authorities are required to direct you to the information, which we have done in this instance.

I am pleased to be able to inform you that information which fully answers your Question 1 can be found in the MPS Workforce Data Report which is published on our website. The document can be accessed direct via the following link:
Workforce data report | Metropolitan Police

The most recent report provides data up to the end of October 2023. The information you are seeking at your question 1 can be found in Table 2.2 of the report.

Disclosure

Q2 - Please provide the number of MO19 officers who have been
(i) shot at and uninjured (bullet missed or struck bulletproof vest)
(ii) shot and injured
(iii) shot and killed in each of the last five years in the course of their duties.

Firearms training includes scenario training where officers are subjected to firearm discharges; types of rounds include non-lethal simulation rounds. We are unable to quantify the number of MO19 officers who have, therefore, been ‘shot at’ (either striking body armour or otherwise) nor whether they received minor injuries, e.g. bruising. In respect to live armed deployments, we are not aware of any live firearms being discharged at officers in the past five years.

Q3 - Please provide details of any additional money MO19 officers receive because they are authorised to carry firearms.

MO19 does not provide additional payments specifically for being an AFO.

Q4 - Please provide details of the medals awarded to MO19 officers in the calendar year 2022.

During 2022, eligible MO19 officers received HM The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal. Officers who were eligible for their Long Service and Good Conduct Medal would also have received one up until the death of HM The Queen.

Q5 - Please provide the number of bullets fired by MO19 officers in the calendar year 2022 while on duty.

We are unable to provide this figure. MO19 officers regularly fire live weapons as part of firearms courses, qualification shoots and range practice. This training/activity takes place at a range of locations, including the Metropolitan Police Specialist Training Centre, satellite training sites, MPS ranges, and also facilities owned and operated by other agencies. The number of rounds fired is not broken down to specific units/forces during these duties.