List of police firearms in the United Kingdom
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Most British police officers (except in Northern Ireland) are not routinely armed.[1] Instead, they rely on specially trained Authorised Firearms Officers (AFO) to attend incidents where firearms are necessary.
Policies
Specialist Firearms Officers are usually trained to a higher standard than AFOs, because they are likely to be required to enter besieged premises. All firearms used by British police are semi-automatic, except for certain forces like the Ministry of Defence Police (MDP). Firearms used by police officers vary between police forces in the UK.
Police use of force regarding firearms was governed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO, dissolved 2015). The Chief Constable and Police Authority of each force decides the number of firearms officers and type of police firearms available.
In 2010, 5.56x45mm Carbines were widely introduced in case of an attack similar to the 2008 Mumbai attacks.[2][3]
Weapons used by Home Office police forces
Firearms issued to Authorised Firearms Officers include:
Pistols
| Series | Model | Origin | Users | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glock | Glock 17 |  Austria |
Various | [4][5][6][7][8] |
| Glock 17M | Metropolitan Police | [7] | ||
| Glock 19 | South Yorkshire Police, Metropolitan Police | |||
| Glock 19M | Metropolitan Police | |||
| Glock 26 | [9][7] | |||
| SIG Sauer | P226 |  Germany |
Sussex Police | [10] |
| P229 | West Midlands Police | [11][12] | ||
| P320 | ||||
| Lancashire Constabulary | ||||
| P250 | Cleveland Police | [13] | ||
| Essex Police | [14] | |||
| SIG Pro | ||||
| Heckler & Koch | Heckler & Koch SFP9 | Staffordshire Police |
Submachine guns
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| Series | Origin | Users | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | Germany |
Metropolitan Police | Variants[7] include fixed stock A2, retractable stock A3, and compact MP5K variants, with the Metropolitan Police also having access to suppressed versions.[15] While normally issued in semi-automatic MP5SF form, select-fire versions are available.[16][15] | [17][7][16] |
| Thames Valley Police | [18] | |||
| Greater Manchester Police | [19] | |||
| Cheshire Constabulary | ||||
| North Wales Police | [20] | |||
| Sussex Police | [21] | |||
| Surrey Police | ||||
| West Midlands Police | [22] |
Automatic rifles
Sniper rifles
Shotguns
| Model | Origin | Users | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Remington 870 |  United States |
Greater Manchester Police | [68][69] |
| Benelli M3 Super 90 |  Italy |
Metropolitan Police | [7][70][71] |
| Benelli Nova | Essex Police | [14] | |
| Benelli Supernova | |||
| Unknown pump-action shotgun | Cheshire Constabulary | ||
| North Wales Police | [72] | ||
| West Midlands Police | [73] | ||
Riot guns
.JPG)
| Model | Origin | Users | Notes | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heckler & Koch HK69A1 | Germany |
Metropolitan Police | Used as the L104A1/A2 37mm riot gun for baton rounds with attenuating energy projectile and discriminating irritant projectile rounds[74] | [75][7] |
| Kent Police | [31] | |||
| South Wales Police | [76] | |||
| Dyfed–Powys Police | [29] | |||
| Hampshire Constabulary | ||||
| Thames Valley Police | ||||
| Lancashire Constabulary | [77] | |||
| Northumbria Police | [8] | |||
| Essex Police | [14] |
Northern Ireland
Unlike territorial police forces in England, Scotland and Wales, as well as the Garda Síochána in the neighbouring Republic of Ireland, all Police Service of Northern Ireland officers are trained to use firearms and are routinely armed while on duty,[78] as were those of the preceding Royal Ulster Constabulary; many officers also carry firearms while off duty.[79]
Weapons used by non-Home Office police forces
British Transport Police
Most British Transport Police officers are unarmed. British Transport Police ARV officers carry:
| Model | Origin | Type | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glock 17 | Austria |
Semi-automatic pistol | [85] |
| LMT CQB 10.5" SBR | United States |
Assault rifle | [85][86] |
| SIG MCX | |||
| SIG Sauer SIG716 |
Belfast Harbour Police
Like the PSNI, Belfast Harbour Police officers are issued the Glock 17 pistol.
Belfast International Airport Constabulary
Civil Nuclear Constabulary
All Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC) officers are trained as Authorised Firearms Officers and are routinely armed while carrying out their duties. CNC officers carry:
| Model | Origin | Type | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glock 17 | Austria |
Semi-automatic pistol | [87] |
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | Germany |
Submachine gun | [87] |
| Heckler & Koch G36 | Assault rifle | [87][23][88][89] | |
| LMT LM7 | United States |
[87] |
CNC officers also operate the armament on board the ships of Pacific Nuclear Transport Limited,[90] which specialise in transporting spent nuclear fuel and reprocessed uranium on behalf of the British Nuclear Fuels organisation.[91]
Such ships have an on-board escort of armed police.[92][93] The Civil Nuclear Constabulary use a range of heavier weapons up to automatic cannon of 30mm calibre deployed on the ships.
Ministry of Defence Police
All Ministry of Defence Police officers are required to pass a firearms module during training (with marine units receiving additional firearms training that is specific to their role[94]) and are routinely armed unless they are posted to Crime Command.[95][96]
| Model | Origin | Type | Status | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Browning Hi-Power |  Belgium |
Semi-automatic pistol | Retired | |
| SIG Sauer P229 | Germany |
Under replacement | [95][96] | |
| Glock 17 | Austria |
Future standard pistol | ||
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | Germany |
Submachine gun | Retired | |
| Heckler & Koch MP7 | Under replacement | [95][96][97] | ||
| Colt Canada C8 |  Canada |
Assault rifle | Future standard issue weapon | [95][96][98] |
| L85A2 |  United Kingdom |
Under replacement | [95][96][99] | |
| LMT LM7 | United States |
Current | [96] |
Overseas British Territories and Crown Dependencies Police Forces
Bermuda Police Service
| Model | Origin | Type | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glock 17 | Austria |
Semi-automatic pistol | [100] |
| Heckler & Koch MP5 | Germany |
Submachine gun | |
| M16 rifle | United States |
Assault rifle | |
| M4 carbine | |||
| Remington 870 | Shotgun |
Royal Cayman Islands Police Service
Isle of Man Constabulary
| Model | Origin | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Glock 17 | Austria |
Semi-automatic pistol |
| Heckler & Koch HK416 | Germany |
Assault rifle |
Historical firearms
In the past, police have been issued: