Firearms officer training on Operation Plato
Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters and the College of Policing should ensure that all firearms officers, including firearms commanders, receive adequate training in Operation Plato, including in what such a declaration means and the demands it will place upon them. This should include instruction in the importance of zoning, communicating zoning decisions to other emergency services and joint working with those other services in the course of the response to an Operation Plato situation.
- The dashboard states that revised and refreshed training for strategic firearms command, cadre tactical firearms commanders and operational firearms commanders has been implemented nationally (Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, Cabinet Office, February 2026).
- This work strand was closed via NPCC Governance in May 2024 (Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, Cabinet Office, February 2026).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to implement improvements. The response committed to reviewing interoperability arrangements between emergency services and strengthening joint training and exercising protocols for major incidents.
Progress Timeline
New Training for Firearms Officers and Commanders - Revised and refreshed training for both strategic firearms command (SFC), cadre tactical firearms commanders (Cadre TFC) and operational firearms commanders (OFCs) has now been implemented nationally. This work strand has been closed via NPCC Governance May 2024.
New Training for Firearms Officers and Commanders - Revised and refreshed training for both strategic firearms command (SFC), cadre tactical firearms commanders (Cadre TFC) and operational firearms commanders (OFCs) has now been implemented nationally. This work strand has been closed via NPCC Governance May 2024.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Government published formal Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations dashboard on GOV.UK (14 November 2025) tracking all 149 recommendations with implementation progress updates.
Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025 received Royal Assent 3 April 2025. Creates two tiers: Standard Duty (200-799 capacity) and Enhanced Duty (800+). SIA will be regulator. Not yet in force -- at least 24 months before enforcement (expected April 2027).
NPCC, Counter Terrorism Policing and College of Policing provided comprehensive updates to Sir John Saunders demonstrating "continued drive to improve collective response to terrorist incidents."
View detailed findings
Representatives working with UK Intelligence Community to address closed Volume Three recommendations. Cross-government monitoring ongoing.