Recommendation MAI-91: Review analgesia deployment for firearms officers
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response, published 3 November 2022.
Recommendation
The College of Policing and Counter Terrorism Policing Headquarters should review whether firearms officers should be deployed with analgesia and trained in its use, as part of providing Care Under Fire.
In brief (written by this site)
In February 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that work on the recommendation remained in progress, with 20 police forces having officers trained in administering analgesia, predominantly Penthrox (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It stated that national guidance from the NPCC Clinical Panel had undergone consultation and would be published shortly, though analgesia deployment remains a force-level decision under local clinical governance (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The department added that all public-facing officers and staff were now trained in non-pharmacological pain management techniques under the new First Aid Learning Package (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
Accepted in full
Delivery
Cabinet Office says in progress (27 February 2026)
The police use of analgesics is not confined to armed officers. There are now 20 forces confirmed as having officers trained in the use of analgesia (predominantly Penthrox). The NPCC Clinical Panel have completed consultation on national guidance, and this will be published shortly. This guidance will inform ongoing decision making of local clinical leads. The use of analgesia will still remain a force level decision, under the governance of local clinical leads and informed by force first aid risk assessments. All public facing officers and staff are now trained in pain management techniques as part of the new First Aid Learning Package (FALP). These include non-pharma logical methods such as reassurance, casualty positioning, splinting and distraction.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
The police use of analgesics is not confined to armed officers. There are now 20 forces confirmed as having officers trained in the use of analgesia (predominantly Penthrox). The NPCC Clinical Panel have completed consultation on national guidance, and this will be published shortly. This guidance will inform ongoing decision making of local clinical leads. The use of analgesia will still remain a force level decision, under the governance of local clinical leads and informed by force first aid risk assessments. All public facing officers and staff are now trained in pain management techniques as part of the new First Aid Learning Package (FALP). These include non-pharma logical methods such as reassurance, casualty positioning, splinting and distraction.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement